the maternal embrace of the nation; to extend to her our care and protection? The resolutions were then unanimously passed. The resolution expressive of the high sense entertained by Congress of the merits of Commodore D. T. Patterson, Major Daniel Carmick, and the officers and men under their command, were read a third time. and passed, with one negative, (Mr. McKEE, of Kentucky.) BANK OF THE UNITED STATES. The House resumed the consideration of the bill from the Senate, "to incorporate the subscribers to the Bank of the United States of America." Mr. FORSYTH Moved to refer the bill to a select committee. FEBRUARY, 1815. repeatedly discussed, that he thought it could be acted on more advantageously in the small remnant of the present session than in the first session of a new Congress, bringing together individuals not acquainted with each others' views, and not having the advantage of hearing the subject frequently discussed. Having always been friendly to such an institution, and believing it as important in peace as in war, he hoped an experiment would be made by referring this subject to a committee, which, whether successful or not, would not consume much time of the House. Messrs. GROSVENOR, PICKERING. and FARROW, also advocated the postponement; and Messrs. KILBOURN, FISK of Vermont, CALHOUN, and TELFAIR, Opposed it. On the question of postponement, which was decided by yeas and nays, the vote stood-yeas 74, nays 73, as follows: Mr. LOWNDES Superseded this motion, by a motion to postpone the bill indefinitely. He made this motion, not from any hostility to a National YEAS-Messrs. Avery, Barbour, Bard, Barnett, Bank, wishing, as the gentleman did, that a Na- Baylies of Massachusetts, Bigelow, Boyd, Bradbury, tional Bank should be established, but because Brigham, Champion, Cilley, Clopton, Cooper, Crawhe wished it to be done at a time and under cir- ford, Cuthbert, Davenport, Desha, Ely, Eppes, Farcumstances which would give the House ability row, Franklin, Geddes, Glasgow, Goodwyn, Grosvenor, to decide correctly on the subject. He believed, Hale, Hall, Hasbrouck, Hawes, Henderson, Hulbert, he said, and he was not alone in that opinion, that Jackson of Rhode Island, Johnson of Kentucky, Kenthe present moment was a most unfavorable one nedy, Kent of New York, King of Massachusetts, Law, for the establishment of a bank. It must be known Lowndes, Macon, Markell, McKee, Montgomery, Mosethat, long as the subject of a bank had been agi-ley, Nelson, Ormsby, Pickering, Pitkin, Potter, John tated, there had been important differences of sen- Reed, Wm. Reed, Roane, Ruggles, Schureman, Seybert, timent as to the principles of such an institution, Sheffey, Shipherd, Slaymaker, Smith of New York, which had been suppressed because of the pres- Vose, Ward of Massachusetts, Ward of New Jersey, Stanford, Stockton, Stuart, Taggart, Thompson, Troup, sure of the times. Among other objections to Wheaton, White, Wilcox, Williams, Wilson of Masacting on this subject at present, he said, it was sachusetts, Winter, and Wright. no trifling one that the suspension of specie payments by the State banks, which every one considered an evil, would unquestionably be prolonged by it. In the fragment of the session which now remains, there would not be time to enter into a consideration of these points; and, if there were full time, the mere circumstance of the new and almost insuperable difficulties arising from a new state of things which now present themselves, ought to suggest a reason for postponement. Congress could not now establish a bank half so eligible, or half so durable, as they could at a future session. NAYS-Messrs. Alston, Anderson, Bayly of Virginia, Bines, Bowen, Breckenridge, Brown, Butler, Caperton, Calhoun, Cannon, Clendenin, Comstock, Conard, Cox, Creighton, Crouch, Culpeper, Duvall, Earle, Findley, Fisk of Vermont, Fisk of New York, Forney, Forsyth, Gaston, Gholson, Gourdin, Griffin, Hanson, Hawkins, Hubbard, Hungerford, Ingersoll, Ingham, Jackson of Virginia, Kent of Maryland, Kerr, Kershaw, Kilbourn, Lefferts, Lewis, Lovett, Lyle, McCoy, McLean, Moore, Murfree, Newton, Parker, Pearson, Pickens, Piper, Pleasants, Rea of Pennsyl vania, Rhea of Tennessee, Rich, Ringgold, Robertson, Sage, Sevier, Sharp, Smith of Virginia, Strong, Sturges, Tannehill, Taylor, Telfair, Udree, Wilson of Pennsylvania, Wood, and Yancey. Mr. FORSYTH said, he was perfectly aware that the subject of a National Bank was attended with great difficulty at this or any other session; but his opinion was, that this was the best time for an attempt of this kind. The subject had been so much discussed, that he apprehended every gentleman was prepared to decide on it without much further discussion. It was from a hope that all sides of the House could now come to some understanding, and agree on the establish-mittee on the bill respecting post offices. ment of such an institution as should be not only valuable to the United States, but satisfactory to all parties, that he had now moved to commit the bill, which he hoped would not be indefinitely postponed. So the bill was indefinitely postponed. Some time was spent in Committee of the Whole on the bill respecting the compensation of collectors of taxes, &c., and some material amendments having been moved to its details, it was ordered to lie on the table. Mr. GASTON Conceived there would be less difficulty in acting on this subject at the present session than was anticipated by the gentleman from South Carolina. The subject has been so The remainder of the day was spent in Com SATURDAY, February 18. Mr. EPPES, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported the bill from the Senate, "to allow a drawback of duties on spirits distilled, and certain goods, wares, and merchandise, manufactured within the United States, on the exportation thereof to any foreign port or place," without FEBRUARY, 1815. National Observatory. H. of R. amendment; and the bill was committed to alief of Isaac Smith and Bratton Caldwell." And Committee of the Whole. It being a duty peculiarly incumbent, in a time of public calamity and war, humbly and devoutly to acknowledge our dependence on Almighty God, and to implore his aid and protection; and, in times of deliverance and prosperity, to manifest our deep and undissembled gratitude to the Almighty Sovereign of the Universe: Therefore, Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That a joint committee of both Houses wait on the President of the United States, and request that he recommend a day of thanksgiving, to be observed by the people of the United States with religious solemnity, and the offering of devout acknowledgments to God for his mercies, and in prayer for the continuance of his blessings. An engrossed bill granting a donation of three hundred and twenty acres of land to Anthony Shane, was read the third time, and passed. An engrossed bill for the relief of Edward Hallowell was read the third time, and passed. Ordered, That the bill to authorize a donation of land to persons employed in the military service of the enemy, who shall come within the United States and claim the protection of the Government thereof, and the bill to provide for the further defence of the frontiers of the United States by authorizing the President to augment the Military Establishment, be postponed indefinitely. Ordered, That the resolution expressive of the sense of Congress of the gallantry and good conduct with which the reputation of the arms of the United States has been sustained by Major General Jackson, and the officers and men under his command, be postponed indefinitely. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill for the relief of Joshua Sands. The bill was reported with an amendment; which was concurred in by the House, and the bill ordered to be engrossed, and read the third time on Monday next. The bill to alter and establish certain post roads, passed through a Committee of the Whole, and was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. The bill for the relief of Henry Nimmo, passed through a Committee of the Whole, was ordered to a third reading, and read a third time, and passed accordingly. they have passed a bill "to authorize the settlement and payment of certain claims for the services of the militia;" in which they ask the concurrence of this House. NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. Mr. NELSON, from the committee to whom was referred, on the second instant, the petition of William Lambert, and other documents relating to the establishment of a first meridian for the United States, made a report; which was read, and the resolution therein contained was amended, and concurred in by the House. The report is as follows: That the reasons detailed in the said reports appearing to be well founded, your committee have no hesitation in declaring their full assent to them. It is also the opinion of the committee that the plan proposed by the memorialist ought to be carried into complete effect, whenever attention to objects of a pressing nature and more immediate importance to the welfare of our country will permit, by the erection of a national observatory, and providing suitable instruments and apparatus at the public expense, to enable skilful persons to determine the places of the moon, planets, and other heavenly bodies with sufficient accuracy, by repeated and careful observations of the times of their transit over the meridian of the place. It further appears that the memorialist has made calculations, in addition to those presented to this House in the month of December, 1809, from data afforded by the occultations of two fixed stars by the moon, which happened in January, 1793, and January, 1813; also, from the external and internal contacts of the sun and moon, in an annular solar eclipse on the 17th of September, 1811, which have all been referred to the Capitol, in the City of Washington; and that the mean result of the longitude is found to be nearly 76° 55′ 45′′, or five hours seven minutes and forty-three seconds in time west of Greenwich observatory, in England. It has been represented that astronomical calculations subsequent to the close of the year 1812, can be depended upon with greater assurance of the accuracy of their results than before that period, in consequence of the publication and introduction into use of improved solar and lunar tables, constructed by M. de Lambre, of Paris, in France, and introduction into M. de Lambre, of Paris, in France, and M. Burg, of use of improved solar and lunar tables, constructed by Vienna, in Germany. This circumstance will suggest be made, by approved methods of computation, to test the propriety of authorizing additional experiments to the accuracy of the result found by William Lambert. Under this impression, the committee submit to the House the following resolution: Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause such further observations to be made by competent persons residing at the seat of the National Government as may be deemed most proper to determine the longitude of the Capitol, in the City of Washington, with the greatest practicable degree of exactness, and that the data, with abstracts of the calculations, and the results founded thereon, be laid before Congress at their next session. The remainder of the day was spent in the A message from the Senate informed the House discussion of the bill declaratory of the powers of that the Senate have passed the bill "for the re- I the Legislature of the Indiana Territory; several propositions to amend and postpone it were re jected, but, before getting through the bill, the House adjourned. MONDAY, February 20. Mr. WRIGHT presented a petition of William Thornton, Superintendent of the Patent Office, praying for an increase of compensation, and that letters and communications to and from that office may not be charged with postage. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. INGERSOLL, from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported a bill supplementary to an act, entitled "An act for the better organization of the Courts of the United States within the State of New York;" which was read twice, and ordered to be engrossed, and read the third time to-morrow. Mr. BowEN, from the Committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims, reported a bill concerning invalid pensioners; which was read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole. The bill from the Senate, "to authorize the settlement and payment of certain claims for the services of the militia," was read the first time, and, on motion, the said bill was read the second time, and referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. The House resumed the consideration of the bill declaratory of the powers of the Legislature of the Territory of Illinois: whereupon, the bill was ordered to lie on the table. An engrossed bill to alter and establish certain post roads was read the third time, and passed. An engrossed bill for the relief of Joshua Sands was read the third time, and passed. The order of the day on Mr. RICH's resolution for classifying persons liable to the direct tax, and allowing them to furnish soldiers in lieu of the same, was, on motion of its author, indefinitely postponed. FEBRUARY, 1815. allowed to the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate;" in which amendments and bill they ask the concurrence of this House. MILITARY AND CREEK LANDS. Mr. HARRIS moved the adoption of the following resolution: Resolved, That the Committee on the Public Lands be instructed to report a bill with provisions for having States by the Creek Treaty, recently ratified, run and the boundary lines of the lands ceded to the United marked, and having the same laid off into sections and quarter-sections, preparatory to the sale thereof, and for making an appropriation for defraying the expenses incident thereto. Mr. HUMPHREYS remarked, that there was already in existence a general law authorizing the laying off of lands, &c., and that so much of this resolve as embraced that object was unnecessary; an appropriation of money only was necessary to enable the President to carry the law into effect. Mr. HARRIS said, that, although there might be such a law as his colleague had described, it was proper that the land in question should be immeto show that the people of Tennessee, who had diately laid off; and used a number of arguments conquered these lands for the United States, should, as soon as possible, have access to the wa ters of Mobile, which could only be obtained by a sale and settlement of the lands recently acquired, &c. Mr. MCKEE said, that, as soon as the treaty with the Indians was proclaimed, the Committee on the Public Lands had turned their attention to this legal provision was necessary to the laying off, subject, and, on examination, had found that no and surveying of these lands, and that an appropriation of money only was necessary for the Commissioner of the General Land Office on the purpose. In answer to a letter addressed to the subject, Mr. McK. said he had been informed it was first necessary that the boundaries of the Indian lands, and those of the United States, should be first surveyed and marked, before the lands were laid off. To enable the Government to proceed in it, an appropriation of money only was necessary. Mr. HUMPHREYS said, that, as respected the settlement of the Creek territory, it was important not only to the people of Tennessee, but to the United States, in order to facilitate the intercourse between the United States and Louisiana, and to give security to the frontier, and cut off the influence of the Spanish Government and British traders over that country. But, as nothing more than an appropriation for the expenses of survey was necessary to that object, he moved to amend Mr. HARRIS's motion, so as to read as follows: A message was received from the President of the United States, transmitting copies of the Treaty of Peace and Amity between the United States and His Britannic Majesty, which was signed by the Commissioners of both parties at Ghent, on the 24th December, 1814, and the ratifications of which have been duly exchanged. The Message was read, and 5,000 copies of the Message and Treaty ordered to be printed. [See Senate proceedings, ante, p. 255, for the Message.] A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have passed the bill "to amend the act, entitled "An act to provide additional revenues for defraying the expenses of Government, and maintaining the public eredit, by laying a direct tax upon the United States, and to provide for assessing and collecting the same;" be instructed to inquire into the necessity and expediResolved, That the Committee of Ways and Means and the act, entitled "An act to provide additional revenues for defraying the expenses of Go-ency of making an appropriation of money to meet the expenses of surveying and laying off the military vernment, and maintaining the public credit, by bounty lands, and the lands lately ceded by the Creek laying duties on household furniture, and on gold Indians to the United States, in the Treaty of Fort and silver watches," with amendments; and they Jackson, in order to the settlement thereof by the citihave passed a bill, "increasing the compensation zens of the United States. This motion was opposed by Mr. HARRIS. He contended for the propriety of a special law on the subject, which should define the duty of the Executive, in this respect, beyond doubt. The President now possessed authority to act on the subject, it was true, but he might not conceive the law obligatory as to these lands, unless Congress gave special direction in regard to them. The importance of the object was such, that he was not willing to leave anything to construction or uncertainty. Mr. McKEE again contended that no further provision than an appropriation was necessary, unless it was intended to impose a penalty on the Executive for a failure to exercise the authority in this respect vested in him by a general law. Mr. HUMPHREYS' amendment prevailed; and, as amended, the motion was agreed to. WIDOW OF ELBRIDGE GERRY. The order of the day having been called for by Mr. Fisk, of New York, on the bill from the Senate, "authorizing payment to the widow of Elbridge Gerry, late Vice President of the United States, of such salary as would have been payaable to him during the remainder of his term of service, had he so long lived," A motion was made, by Mr. EPPES, to postpone the further consideration thereof indefinitely. This motion gave rise to a debate, in which Messrs. EPPES, CANNON, POTTER, TAYLOR, GROSVENOR, SHEFFEY, and PICKERING, advocated the postponement; and Messrs. FISK of New York, MCKIM, FISK of Vermont, JACKSON of Virginia, HULBERT, WRIGHT, and OAKLEY, opposed it. The debate was one of some interest. The general principle asserted by those opposed to the bill, was the impropriety of setting a precedent of pensions for civil services, which would entail on the United States the evils so grievously felt in despotic Governments, from the same source. The bill was advocated on the ground of respect for the services of the deceased patriot and public servant, whose family was by his decease placed in a state of absolute dependence. The question on postponement was at length decided by yeas and nays-for postponement 86, against it 44, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Alston, Anderson, Avery, Barnett, Brown, Caperton, Cannon, Champion, Cilley, Clendenin, Clopton, Comstock, Condict, Conard, Cooper, Crawford, Crouch, Culpeper, Davenport, Desha, Duvall, Ely, Eppes, Franklin, Gaston, Geddes, Gholson, Glasgow, Goldsborough, Goodwyn, Grosvenor, Hale, Hall, Harris, Hawes, Henderson, Humphreys, Hungerford, Irwin, Kennedy, Kilbourn, King of Massachusetts, King of North Carolina, Law, Lefferts, Lewis, Lovett, Lyle, Macon, Markell, McLean, Montgomery, Moseley, Nelson, Ormsby, Pearson, Pickering, Piper, Pitkin, Potter, Rea of Pennsylvania, Rhea of Tennessee, Rich, Sage, Schureman, Seybert, Sheffey, Sherwood, Shipherd, Slaymaker, Stanford, Stockton, Strong, Sturges, Taggart, Tannehill, Taylor, Troup, Udree, Vose, Wheaton, White, Wilcox, Williams, Winter, and Yancey. H. of R. Cox, Creighton, Farrow, Fisk of Vermont, Fisk of New York, Gourdin, Hanson, Hasbrouck, Hopkins of Kentucky, Hubbard, Hulbert, Ingersoll, Jackson of Rhode Island, Jackson of Virginia, Kent of New York, Kent of Maryland, Kershaw, McKim, Moore, Murfree, Oakley, Parker, Pleasants, Ringgold, Roane, Robertson, Sevier, Smith of New York, Smith of Penn., Smith of Virginia, Stuart, Thompson, Wilson of Massachusetts, Wilson of Pennsylvania, Wood, and Wright. So the bill was indefinitely postponed-in other words, rejected. Mr. KILBOURN's bill to provide, by encouraging The remainder of the sitting was occupied on actual settlement, for the protection of the Northwestern frontier; which was, in the end, indefinitely postponed. TUESDAY, February 21. The amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill "to amend the act, entitled "An act to provide additional revenues for defraying the expenses of Government, and maintaining the public credit, by laying a direct tax upon the United States, and to provide for assessing and collecting the same;" and, "the act, entitled 'An act to provide additional revenues for defraying the exlic credit, by laying duties on household furnipenses of Government, and maintaining the pubture, and on gold and silver watches;" were read, and referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate disagree to the amendment of this House to the resolution expressive of the thanks of Congress to Major General Jackson, and the troops under his command, for their gallantry and good conduct in the defence of New Orleans;" except so much thereof as strikes out the word "immediate," in the third line of the first resolution. The House proceeded to consider the said message: Whereupon, it was resolved, that this House insist on that part of their amendment to the resolutions aforesaid, to which the Senate have disagreed. Ordered, That the Clerk do acquaint the Senate therewith. A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have passed the bill "to authorize the issuing of Treasury notes for the service of the year 1815," with amendments, in which they ask the concurrence of this House. They adhere to their disagreement to that part of the amendment of this House to the "resolutions expressive of the thanks of Congress to Major General Jackson and the troops under his command, for their gallantry and good conduct in the defence of New Orleans," to which they disagreed, and which have been insisted upon by this House. The amendments to the bill "to authorize the issuing of Treasury notes for the service of the year 1815," were read, and referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. NAYS-Messrs. Alexander, Bard, Baylies of Mas- Mr. TROUP, from the Military Committee, resachusetts, Bigelow, Bines, Boyd, Bradbury, Brigham, | ported sundry resolutions expressive of the sense H. OF R. Thanksgiving-British and Indian Depredations. FEBRUARY, 1815. tions of the Creeks; for which they conceive reparation is due to the sufferers out of the lands which have been ceded by the treaty lately concluded with that nation of Indians to the United States, and pray that a board of commissioners may be instituted for the purpose of ascertaining such losses, and with a view to such reparation. entertained by Congress of the gallantry and good conduct, with which the reputation of the arms of the United States have been sustained during the late war by certain officers therein named (including many militia officers, and several field officers who have fallen in the service.) The resolutions were twice read, and referred to the same committee, to whom resolutions of a similar character, reported by that tained by the inhabitants of this section of the councommittee, have been referred. try are great, and that their sufferings have been seThe bill supplementary to the act for the bet-vere; but, conceiving that other cases may furnish ter organization of the courts of the United States within the State of New York, was read a third time, passed, and sent to the Senate. The bill from the Senate to increase the compensation of the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate, was twice read, and committed. The House proceeded to the consideration, of the bill declaratory of the powers of the Legislature of Illinois Territory, which, after the proposition of other amendments thereto, was ordered to lie on the table, and made the order of the day for to-morrow. The bill fixing the compensation, &c., of collectors of the direct tax and internal duties, was further debated and amended, and then ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. DAY OF THANKSGIVING. On motion of Mr. CULPEPER, the House proceeded to the consideration of the resolution submitted by him a day or two ago, which is in the following words: "It being a duty peculiarly incumbent in a time of public calamity and war, humbly and devoutly to acknowledge our dependence on Almighty God, and to implore his aid and protection; and, in times of deliverance and prosperity, to manifest our deep and undissembled gratitude to the Almighty Sovereign of the Universe: "Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That a joint committee of both Houses wait upon the President of the United States, and request that he recommend a day of thanksgiving, to be observed by the people of the United States with religious solemnity and the offering of devout acknowledgments to God for his mercies, and in prayers to him for a continuance of his blessings." On motion of Mr. RHEA, the resolution was amended in its preamble, by striking out the words in italic, and thus amended, the resolution was, after some conversation as to the preamble, ordered to be engrossed for a third reading; and, being accordingly subsequently read a third time, was ordered to be referred to a select committee to consider and report thereon. BRITISH AND INDIAN DEPREDATIONS. Mr. LATTIMORE, from the committee to whom was referred, on the 21st ultimo, the memorial of the Legislature of the Mississippi Territory, relative to Indian depredations, made a report; which was read, as follows: The memorialists state, that, in the eastern part of the above-mentioned Territory, great losses have been sustained from the wanton and unwarranted depreda Your committee have no doubt that the losses sus claims to reparation, they are of opinion that any proceeding on the subject should not be partial in its ob ject or effect. Abstaining from all remarks as to the important and extensive principle which this subject involves, your committee believe that it would be proper to ascertain, without unnecessary delay, all such losses, whether from English or Indian depredations, as may hereafter claim the attention of Congress, when the general question of indemnity may come before them; and in this view of the subject, and also with due regard to the particular case presented by the memorialists, they offer the following resolution to the consideration of the House: Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to take such measures as may be convenient for the purpose of obtaining satisfactory evidence of all losses of property which have been sustained in consequence of the depredations of the British or Indians, or of the troops of the United States, during the late war; and that the memorial above considered be transmitted to him for his information on the subject to which it relates. On the question of concurrence in said resolution, a desultory debate took place, which ended in laying the report on the table-the principal argument for this course being the propriety of so amending it as to limit it to depredations contrary to the laws and usages of war, which, it appeared to be admitted, ought to be a subject of amicable discussion and settlement between the two Governments. WEDNESDAY, February 22. A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have passed bills from this House with the following titles: "An act for the regulation of the courts of justice of Indiana;" and "An act giving the right of pre-emption in the purchase of lands to certain settlers in the Indiana Territory," with amendments. And they have passed bills of the following titles: "An act authorizing the discharge of Edward Martin from imprisonment;""An act for the better temporary accommodation of the two Houses of Congress ;" and "An act to repeal certain acts therein mentioned;" in which amendments and bills they ask the concurrence of this House. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill for the relief of Thomas Sprigg; which passed through a Committee of the Whole, and was ordered to be engrossed, and read the third time to-morrow. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill for the relief of James |