rant, of their title; many of these were orphans, who would sooner or later learn their right, and claim it; that it would be cruel and unjust to foreclose them, &c., and he defended the bill as it stood. Mr. TRIMBLE made some remarks explanatory of the circumstances of this reservation, and the course heretofore pursued by Congress, as well as by Virginia; the difficulties which had grown out of the conduct of Virginia herself, from turning out the surveyor appointed by the officers, &c., and to show the reasons why all the locations had not been made; one of which was that the Indian title to a great part of the tract between the Sciota and Miami had not until recently (a part of it as late as 1818) been extinguished, and which of course could not previously be located. He was decidedly of opinion that it would be great injustice in Congress to refuse ample time for the location of those warrants. JANUARY, 1821. of Washington, severally praying an extension of the charters of the said banks respectively; and the petitions were read, and severally referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia. Mr. SANFORD presented the petition of Harriet Shackerley and others, surviving children of Peter Shackerley, who was slain on board the frigate Chesapeake, in the rencounter with the British frigate Leopard, in 1807, praying to be allowed a stipend equal to that proffered by the British Government, to the families of those killed on that occasion; and the petition was read, and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. Mr. KING, of New York, presented the memorial of the Chamber of Commerce of the city of New York, praying that such an increase of the naval force of the United States on the southwestern coast of America may be made, as will afford sufficient protection to the commerce of the United States in that quarter; and the memorial was read, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Mr. JOHNSON, of Kentucky, thought this a question simply whether Congress would enforce the principles of the statute of limitations against the Mr. HUNTER presented the petition of Stephen just claims of the poor war-worn soldier, or his F. Northam and others, of Rhode Island, merfriendiess orphans. Against such a course he pro- chants, representing that they took out license in tested and reasoned. These claims had lost no the year 1815, for distilling spirits from molasses part of their validity by delay; much less had for one year; that a few days after their distillery they been forfeited; and he did not believe it was inundated, and so much injured by the viocould, he hoped it could not, ever become a seri-lent gale of wind and flood of tide, which at that ous question in Congress whether time should be allowed for them to be brought in. time happened, as to suspend its operation nearly half the year, and praying that so much of the Mr. THOMAS referred to the several acts of money paid for said license may be restored to Congress on the subject, and spoke as to the legis-them, as will be equal to the time the distillery lative history of this subject, illustrative of the remained inoperative; and the petition was read, propriety and justice of extending the full time and referred to the Committee on Commerce and proposed. Manufactures. Mr. RUGGLES, of Onio, moved to strike out two years, and insert one year as the time of extension. He argued that those lands which were not taken up by the warrants, remained unsettled; and that the further extension of indulgence operated to prevent the populating of the country in question; that there ought to be some limit established to this indulgence, and he thought one year more would enable Congress to judge when this limit could be fixed, and a termination be put to this drawback on the settlement of the country. The motion was opposed by Messrs. BARBOUR, TALBOT, and TRIMBLE; and it was negatived without a division. The bill was then reported to the Senate, and ordered to a third reading. Mr. JOHNSON, of Kentucky, presented the petition of Watson Brown, of Louisiana, praying a grant of land in consideration of military services; and the petition was read, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. ROBERTS, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the petition of George Jackson, made a report, accompanied by a resolution, that the prayer of the petitioner ought not to be granted. The report and resolution were read. Mr. ROBERTS, from the same committee, to whom were referred the petition of J. L. B. Macarty, made a rep "t, accompanied by a bill for the relief of J. L. s. Macarty; and the report and bill were read, and the bill passed to a second reading. Mr. ROBERTS, from the same committee, to whom was referred the petition of James Villere, made a report, accompanied by a resolution, that the prayer of the petitioner ought not to be granted. The report and resolution were read. Mr. ROBERTS, from the same committee, to whom the subject was referred by resolution of the Senate of the 19th instant, made a report on the claim of Matthew B. Cathey, accompanied by a resolution, that the petitioner's claim ought not to be allowed. The report and resolution were Mr. HORSEY presented the petition of the pre-read. sident and directors of the Bank of Columbia, and Mr. ROBERTS, from the same committee, to the petition of the directors of the Patriotic Bank whom was referred the memorial of E. B. Clem Mr. SANFORD, from the Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the petition of William Smith, jr., made a report, accompanied by a resolution, that the prayer of the petitioner be refused. The report and resolution were read. The Senate proceeded to consider the report of the Committee on Public Lands, on the memorial of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, praying permission to tax certain lands; and on motion by Mr. THOMAS, it was laid on the table. The Senate proceeded to consider the report of the Committee on Public Lands, on the memorial of the register and receiver of the Land Office at Shawneetown; and, in concurrence therewith, resolved that the prayer of the memorialists ought not to be granted. The Senate resumed the consideration of the report of the Committee of Claims, on the petition of Jacob Barker; and, on motion by Mr. KING of New York, it was laid on the table. The bill supplementary to an act passed on the 5th of April, 1820, entitled "An act for the relief of John Harding, Giles Harding, John Shute, and John Nichols," was read the second time, and referred to the Committe of Claims. The bill for the relief of the representatives of Patience Gordon, widow, deceased, was read the third time, and passed. The bill supplementary to the act passed on the 11th of May, 1820, entitled "An act to provide for the publication of the laws of the United States and for other purposes," was read the third time, and passed. The bill from the House of Representatives, entitled "An act to extend the time for locating Virginia military land warrants, and returning surveys thereon to the General Land Office," was read the third time, and passed. The Senate spent some time in considering the bill for the relief of Commodore Samuel Tucker; which bill was advocated at sc e length by Mr. WALKER of Georgia. The bill' was then postponed to Wednesday. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill further to establish the compensation of the officers employed in the collection of imports and tonnage, and for other purposes; and having amended the same, the Senate adjourned. TUESDAY, January 30. Mr. NOBLE presented the petition signed by a number of individuals, concerned, directly or indirectly, as purchasers of public lands prior to the law "making further provision for the sale of public lands," stating, that said law operates in SENATE. juriously upon them, and praying that they may be permitted to apply the payments already made to such portion of their entries as such payments will cover at two dollars per acre, and that the residue may revert to the United States; and the petition was read, and laid on the table. Mr. KING, of New York, laid on the table sundry resolutions adopted at an assemblage of the citizens of the city of New York, consisting of the most respectable merchants, landlords, and others, declaring the pernicious and injurious effects upon commerce from sales at auction, under the existing system; which were read, and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures. Mr. SANFORD, from the Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the bill concerning the collection of public moneys, reported the same with amendments; which were read. Mr. THOMAS, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill, entitled "An act for the relief of Daniel Seward," reported it without amendment. Mr. THOMAS, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill, entitled "An act to regulate the location of land warrants, and the issuing of patents in certain cases;" reported it with amendments, which were read. The bill for the relief of J. L. B. Macarty was read the second time. Mr. WILLIAMS, of Tennessee, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the resolution from the House of Representatives, to suspend the recruiting service for a limited time; reported it without amendment. The Senate proceeded to consider the report of the Committee of Claims, on the petition of George Jackson; and it was postponed to Monday next. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House of Representatives have passed a bill, entitled "An act for the relief of John Webster;" a bill, entitled "An act to establish the district of Pearl river;" and a bill, entitled "An act further to regulate the entry of merchandise imported into the United States from any adjacent territory;" in which bills they request the concurrence of the Senate. The three bills last brought up for concurrence were read, and severally passed to a second reading. Mr. VAN DYKE, from the Committee of Claims, made an unfavorable report on the petition of Thomas Hardeman, which was read. The reports of the Committee of Claims unfavorable to the petitions of Matthew B. Cathey, of E. B. Clemson, of Hanson Catlett, and that of the Committee of Finance against the petition of William Smith, jun., were severally considered and agreed to. The Senate took up the bill further to establish the compensation of the officers employed in the collection of the customs, and spent some time in maturing its details. In the course of its consideration, Mr. HOLMES, of Maine, submitted the views which governed him in proposing this measure, and referred to various facts touching probable abuses, in the illegal conversion of public funds to private emolu ment, to show the expediency of the bill, as well in regard to the prevention of these abuses, as to the object of retrenchment and economy. Before the bill was gone through On motion of Mr. LLOYD, who wished a little further time to examine its important provisions, the bill was postponed to Thursday. The bill concerning Thomas Shields and others, passed through a Committee of the Whole, in which it was explained by Mr. PLEASANTS, and was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. RELIEF TO LAND PURCHASERS. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill for the relief of the purchasers of public lands. The question under consideration was an amendment offered by Mr. THOMAS, in substance, to extend the provisions of the bill to those who hold lands under the original purchasers from the public. Mr. KING, of New York, submitted at large his views of the policy of this bill, and the reasons which claimed his support of it-stating his ideas of the mode and measure of relief proper to be granted to the different classes of purchasers, &c. The amendment proposed by Mr. THOMAS was agreed to without a division. Various other amendments were adopted on successive motions of Mr. THOMAS, making its provisions more extensively applicable to the various classes of purchasers; as well as in other features of its detail. JANUARY, 1821. WEDNESDAY, January 31. The PRESIDENT communicated a letter from the Postmaster General, transmitting a statement of all contracts made by the Post Office Department during the last year, and a statement of contracts made in a former year; and the letter and statements were read. The following Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: To the Senate of the United States: I transmit to Congress a report from the Secretary of the Treasury, submitting copies of the instructions the 15th of May, 1820, authorizing the location of a given to the commissioners appointed under the act of road from Wheeling, in the State of Virginia, to a point on the left bank of the Mississippi river, between St. Louis and the mouth of the Illinois river; and copies of the report made by the said commissioners to the Treasury Department, of the progress they have made in the execution of the duties prescribed by the said act, together with maps of the country through which the location is to be made. JAMES MONROE. WASHINGTON, January 31, 1821. The Message and report were read, and referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals. Mr. ROBERTS, from the Committee of Claims, to whom were referred the bill, entitled "An act for the relief of Joseph McNiel;" the bill, entitled "An act for the relief of Alexander Milne," the bill entitled "An act for the relief of Lewis H. Guerlain ;" the bill, entitled "An act for the relief of John RodMr. WALKER, of Alabama, moved an amend-riguez;" the bill, entitled "An act for the relief of ment going to extend the proposed discount to the whole amount of purchase money, instead of merely on the sum remaining due: in support of which he referred to the reasons submitted by him some days ago in favor of such a provision. Francis B. Languille;" and the bill, entitled "An act for the relief of Bartholomew Duverge ;" reported them severally without amendment. Mr. THOMAS, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was recommitted the bill, entitled A debate of some length took place on this pro-"An act for the relief of Nicholas Jarrott," reposition; in which it was opposed by Messrs. VAN ported it with amendments; which were read. DYKE, LOWRIE, and KING, of New York, and was defended by Mr. WALKER, of Alabama. The proposed amendment was ultimately rejected without a division. The blank in which to insert the discount contemplated to be allowed to these purchasers on their payments, Mr. THOMAS moved to fill with "thirty-seven and a half" per cent. This motion produced likewise some debate, touching the proper deduction to be allowed, &c., Messrs. LowRIE, and KING, of New York, opposing this amount. The amendment was agreed to-19 to 11. Mr. VAN DYKE moved an amendment, going to limit the extension of the credit to those who have purchased no more than two contiguous half quarter sections of land. On this motion considerable discussion arose, in which Messrs. Van Dyke, KING of Alabama, EDWARDS, KING of New York, and WILLIAMS of Mississippi, took part. Before the question was taken on the motion the usual hour of adjournment had arrived; and, about 4 o'clock, the Senate adjourned. Mr. HORSEY presented the petition of the President and Directors of the Central Bank of Georgetown and Washington, in behalf of the stockholders, praying that the charter of said bank may be continued, until they can effectually close the concerns thereof; and the petition was read, and referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia. The bill, entitled "An act for the relief of John Webster;" the bill, entitled "An act to establish "An act further to regulate the entry of merchanthe district of Pearl river;" and the bill, entitled dise imported into the United States from any adjacent territory;" were severally read the second time, and the bill, entitled "An act for the relief of John Webster," was referred to the Committee of Claims. The bill, entitled "An act to establish the district of Pearl river;" was referred to the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures. The bill, entitled "An act further to regulate the entry of merchandise imported into the United States from any adjacent territory," was referred to the Committee on Finance. The Senate proceeded to consider the report of JANUARY, 1821. Compensation of Members-Relief Bill. the Committee of Claims, on the petition of James Villeré; and it was postponed to Friday next. The Senate proceeded to consider the report of the Committee on Public Lands, on the petition of Thomas Hardeman; and it was postponed until to-morrow. SENATE. the question on one salary and amount of compensation after another, but a majority could not unite on any one point of reduction; that the information possessed by the committee would be (and was after the discussion commenced) laid before the Senate; that the mode now proposed, of discharMr. SMITH, from the Committee on the Judiciary, ging a committee which could do nothing, was obtained leave to be discharged from the further the most proper, under the circumstances, the most consideration of the petition of John Bioren and Parliamentary and logical; that there was an inFielding Lucas, booksellers; and also (after some congruity in the committee's reporting it expedient discussion on the practicability of maturing any to do nothing; that it would be competent still for thing on so intricate a subject during the present any gentleman, who was dissatisfied with the session) from the further consideration of the in-result, to make any specific motion for reduction quiry referred to that committee, into the expedi- in any branch of the Government, &c. ency of diminishing, equalizing, and establishing, the fees of district attorneys, clerks, and marshals, and other officers. The engrossed bill concerning Thomas Shields and others was read the third time, passed, and sent to the other House for concurrence. COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS. The question being taken on discharging the committee from the further consideration of the subject, it was decided in the negative, by yeas and nays, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Dana, Edwards, Johnson of Kentucky, Johnson of Louisiana, King of Alabama, Mills, Noble, Otis, Parrott, Stokes, Talbot, Taylor, Walker of Georgia, and Williams of Tennessee. NAYS-Messrs. Barbour, Brown, Chandler, Dick Holmes of Mississippi, Horsey, Hunter, King of New The committee appointed to inquire into the propriety of reducing the allowances authorized by law for the two Houses of Congress, and for the Executive Departments, report: That they have made inquiry according to the resolution for their appointment, and do not consider it advisable at the present time to propose any reduction of legal allowances in the cases to them referred. The following resolution is accordingly submitted: Mr. DANA, from the select committee appointed to inquire into the propriety of reducing the com-erson, Eaton, Elliott, Gaillard, Holmes of Maine, pensation of the members of Congress, and also the salaries of the principal and other officers of the Executive Departments, at the Seat of Government, stated, that the committee had made all the necessary inquiries, and collected all requisite information from the different departments comprehended in the scope of their inquiry, from the year 1790 to the year 1820; that the committee had duly deliberated on the whole matter referred to them, and that not being able to agree on any specific report, embracing any system or measure of reduction, partial or general, it only remained to state this fact to the Senate, which he was instructed to do, and ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject, that the Senate might be enabled thus early to take such further order on it as should to it appear expedient. A good deal of debate arose on the question of thus discharging the committee from the subject. It was opposed by Messrs. ROBERTS and SMITH, chiefly on the ground that, as a specific inquiry had been referred, a specific report, either for or against the object, ought to be made; that this mode of disposing of such an inquiry was an innovation on legislative custom; that, as the Chairman had, with great industry, collected a mass of information on the subject, it was proper to submit it to the Senate, with an opinion, no matter how concise, of the committee; that, as the committee had come to a decision on the subject-matter referred to them; that decision ought to be reported, &c. Mr. MACON thought the documents, at any rate, ought to be laid before the Senate, that it might have the same light on the subject as the committee had. Resolved, That it is not expedient to reduce the compensation allowed by law for the respective Houses of Congress, and for the principal and other officers in the Executive Departments. The report was read. THE RELIEF BILL. The Senate, resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill for the relief of the purchasers of public lands-Mr. VAN DYKE'S motion to amend the bill by limiting the credit to those whose purchases have not exceeded two contiguous half-quarter sections, being still under consideration. The question was taken on this amendment without debate, and it was agreed to-16, to 12. The Senate spent much much time in considering other amendments, as well of the original provisions as of additional provisions proposed to be inserted, with the view of rendering its enactments more clear, The motion to discharge the committee was of guarding them against abuse, &c. ; in the proposisupported by Messrs. DANA, STOKES, OTIS, and tion and discussion of which Messrs. VAN DYKE, JOHNSON, of Kentucky, for the reasons, generally, WALKER, of Georgia, KING, WALKER, of Alabama, that, as the committee could agree upon no plan EATON, KING, of New York, and TALBOT, took of reduction, they could come to no practical con- part. Of these propositions, the following, offered clusion, and therefore could make no specific report | by Mr. EATON, as a new section, was the only one or recommendation; that the committee had tried which affected or embraced any important principle: And be it further enacted, That any purchaser of public lands who, previous to the day of last, had actually made a settlement on the same, shall be allowed a remission of all interest; and twenty-five per cent. discount on the amount yet unpaid, and shall pay for the residue in instalments of one, two, years without interest: Provided, That the settlement of any one quarter section or legal subdivision of a fractional section, shall be deemed and held a settlement of all contiguous and adjoining quarter sections or legal subdivisions of fractional section, so by him, in his own right, held, and possessed, not exceeding one section. FEBRUARY, 1821. certain banks in the District of Columbia; and the Manufactures be instructed to inquire into the expe- river. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House have passed a bill, entitled "An act for the relief of Rosalie P. Deslonde;" a bill, entitled "An act for the relief of Pierre Dennis De La Ronde; a bill, entitled "An act confirming the location of the seat of government of the State of Illinois, and for other purposes;" and a bill, entitled "An act authorizing the President of the United States to remove the land office in the district of Lawrence county, in the Territory of Arkansas;" in which bills they request the concurrence of the Senate. This amendment was opposed for various reasons by Messrs. KING, of New York, TALBOT, VAN DYKE, and EDWARDS, as inexpedient, and incompatible with the original views which produced the bill, which it might endanger; and was advocated by Messrs. EATON, and JOHNSON, of Kentucky, on the general ground that the actual settlers and cultivators of public lands ought to be relieved, as well as the very large and very small purchasers, now only in the contemplation of the bill. Mr. TALBOT was in favor of confining the amendment to a half section; and Mr. JOHNSON, of Kentucky, was in favor of one section. LOWRIE thought the amendment unnecessary, and was willing to extend the class of small purchasers to half a section of land. Mr. EATON modi-lie P. Deslonde" was read the second time by fied his amendment so as to extend it to one section unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee of land. Before the question was taken on the of Claims. amendment, it was with the bill laid on the table and ordered to be printed. Mr. The Senate then according to the order of the day took up the Bankrupt bill; but before any progress was made in it, the Senate adjourned. THURSDAY, February 1. Mr. Oris presented the petition of Samuel Parker, of Massachusetts, praying that the patent heretofore granted to him for certain improvements in machinery, the limitation of which is about to expire, may be renewed; and the petition was read, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. WILLIAMS, of Tennessee, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the petition of Nathaniel Allen, reported a bill for passing to the credit of Nathaniel Allen certain moneys by him disbursed in the public service; and the bill was read, and passed to a second reading. Mr. WALKER, of Georgia, gave notice, that, tomorrow, he should ask leave to bring in a bill concerning the process of execution issuing from the sixth circuit court of the United States for the district of Georgia. The four bills last brought up for concurrence were read, and severally passed to a second reading. The bill entitled "An act for the relief of Rosa Mr. EATON, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the memorial of Andrew Peters and others, made a report, accompanied by a resolution that the prayer be not granted. The report and resolution were read. The Senate proceeded to consider the report of the Committee on Public Lands on the petition of Thomas Hardeman; and, on motion by Mr. EATON, it was laid on the table. The Senate resumed the consideration of the bill to establish an uniform system of bankruptcy throughout the United States; and it was postponed to, and made the order of the day for, Monday next. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill to amend the act, entitled "An act to incorporate the subscribers to the Bank of the United States;" and it was postponed to, and made the order of the day for, Monday next. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill for the relief of Samuel Tucker, late a Captain in the Navy of the United States; and it was postponed to, and made the order of the day for, to-morrow. Mr. SMITH, from the Committee on the JudiMr. NOBLE, from the Committee on Pensions, ciary, made an unfavorable report on the petition to whom was referred the bill, entitled "An act to of Louis Lauret, of New Orleans, praying to be continue in force an act, entitled 'An act to pro-admitted to the rights of citizenship earlier than is vide for persons who were disabled by known wounds received in the Revolutionary war, and for other purposes," reported it without amend ment. prescribed by law. Mr. SMITH, from the same committee, to which was referred the resolution to inquire whether any, and if any what, amendments are necessary and Mr. HORSEY, from the Committee on the Dis- proper to be made to the act, entitled "An act reltrict of Columbia, to whom the subject was re-ative to the election of President and Vice Presiferred, reported a bill to extend the charters of dent of the United States, and declaring the officer |