JUNE 20, 1832.] Public Lands. [SENATE. that the subject is referred. The evil of a free black tion of it by the will of the whole, for the advantage of population is not restricted to particular States, but ex- the whole, it may be transmitted, as a sacred and inestimatends to, and is felt by, all. It is not, therefore, the slave ble succession, to posterity, for its benefit and blessing for question, but totally distinct from and unconnected with ages to come. it. I have heretofore often expressed my perfect conviction that the General Government has no constitutional power which it can exercise in regard to African slavery. That conviction remains unchanged. The States in which slavery is tolerated, have exclusively in their own hands the entire regulation of the subject. But the slave States differ in opinion as to the expediency of African colonization. Several of them have signified their approbation of it. The Legislature of Kentucky, I believe unanimously, recommended the encouragement of colonization to Congress. Should a war break out during the term of five years that the operation of the bill is limited to, the fund is to be withdrawn, and applied to the vigorous prosecution of the war. If there be no war, Congress, at the end of the term, will be able to ascertain whether the money has been beneficially expended, and to judge of the propriety of continuing the distribution. Three reports have been made on this great subject of the public lands, during the present session of Congress, besides that of the Secretary of the Treasury at its commencement-two in the Senate, and one in the House. All three of them agree, first, in the preservation of the control of the General Government over the public lands; and, second, they concur in rejecting the plan of a cession of the public lands to the States in which they are situated, recommended by the Secretary. The Land Committee of the Senate propose an assignment of fifteen per cent. of the nett proceeds, besides the five per cent. stipulated in the compacts (making together twenty per cent.) to the new States, and nothing to the old. Statement showing [A] the amount received in the year 1831 from the sales of public lands in each of the seven States within which The Committee on Manufactures of the Senate, after an allotment of an additional sum of ten per cent. to the new States, proposes an equal distribution of the residue among all the States, old and new, upon equitable principles. The Senate's Land Committee, besides the proposal of a distribution, restricted to the new States, recommends an immediate reduction of the price "of fresh lands to a minimum of one dollar per acre, and to fifty cents per acre for lands which have been five years or upwards in market." 90,228 58 59,604 46 Amount received in 1831. 5 per cent. 10 per cent. 15 per cent. Dividend. Grand total. Ohio, $428,252 70 21,412 64 42,825 27 695,848 45 34,792 42 69,584 84 64,237 91 Illinois, 426,824 63 21,341 23 42,682 46 64,023 69 243,147 22 307,385 13 Missouri, $75,633 42 18,781 67 37,563 34 56,345 01 33,883 57 The Land Committee of the House is opposed to all distribution, general or partial, and recommends a reduction of the price to one dollar per acre. And now, Mr. President, I have a few words more to say, and shall be done. We are admonished by all our reflections, and by existing signs, of the duty of communicating strength and energy to the glorious Union which now encircles our favored country. Among the ties which bind us together, the public domain merits high consideration. And if we appropriate, for a limited time, the proceeds of that great resource, among the several States, for the important objects which have been enumerated, a new and powerful bond of affection and of interest will be added. The States will feel and recognise the operation of the General Government, not merely in power and burdens, but in benefactions and blessings. And the General Government, in its turn, will feel, from the expenditure of the money which it dispenses to the States, the benefits of moral and intellectual improvement which accompanied the report of the Senate's Committee of the people, of greater facility in social and commercial on Manufactures, showing the distributive share of each intercourse, and of the purification of the population of State. Since that table was constructed, it has been asour country, themselves the best parental sources of na- certained that the proceeds of the public lands last year tional character, national union, and national greatness. were upwards of three and a half millions of dollars. ConWhatever may be the fate of the particular proposition sequently, one-sixth should be added to the amount estinow under consideration, I sincerely hope that the atten-mated for every State, in the following table, to show what tion of the nation may be attracted to this most interesting each State would receive, on the supposition that the prosubject; that it may justly appreciate the value of this im- duce of the public lands for succeeding years will equal mense national property; and that, preserving the regula- the last.]--Editors of the Register. Florida, [Supposing it would be acceptable, we annex the table SENATE.] Patents.-Pension Duties.--Internal Improvements. [JUNE 21, 22, 1832 Statement showing the dividend of each State (according to The amendment reported by the Committee on Penits federal population) in the proceeds of the public lands,sions, giving a discretion to the President to make the after deducting therefrom fifteen per cent. as an addition-transfer, if he should think it necessary, was negatived. al dividend for the States in which the public land is situ ated. [Estimated proceeds of lands, $3,000,000; deduct 15 per cent. $450,000, and $2,550,000 remain to be divided among all the States according to their population.] STATES. Federal popula- Shares in proceeds 75,432 $85,387 48 130,487 59 Vermont, 280,657 59,995 93 Rhode Island, 97,194 20,777 12 63,631 72 New York, 1,918,553 New Jersey, 319,922 Pennsylvania, 1,348,072 Delaware, Maryland, 405,843 Virginia, 1,023,503 North Carolina, 639,747 The question was then taken on the third reading of the resolution, and decided as follows: YEAS.-Messrs. Bibb, Chambers, Dallas, Ellis, Ewing, Forsyth, Frelinghuysen, Hendricks, Hill, Holmes, Kane, King, Marcy, Poindexter, Prentiss, Robbins, Robinson, Ruggles, Seymour, Silsbee, Sprague, Tazewell, Tipton, Tomlinson, Tyler, Waggaman, White, Wilkins.-28. NAYS.-Messrs. Bell, Benton, Brown, Clay, Clayton, Foot, Hayne, Knight, Mangum, Miller, Moore, Naudain, Webster.-13. The resolution was then read a third time, and 'passed. Mr. HAYNE submitted a resolution to amend the rules of the Senate, so as to make a motion to strike out and insert not a divisible motion, &c. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. On motion of Mr. WILKINS, the Senate then proceeded to consider the act making appropriations for certain internal improvements for 1832. 410,128 29 The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate a report from the Commissioner of the General Land Office, in obedience to a resolution calling for the number of patents for land which are waiting for the signature of the President, and the cost of each patent. Mr. CLAY said that he had proposed to make soine remarks on this question; but he had not sufficiently recovered his articulation to say more than that he hoped the amendment would be negatived. He said that, as the Cumberland river runs through the States of Tennessee and Kentucky; as Kentucky had received no favors of this kind from the General Government, the Maysville road appropriation having been vetoed; and as the port of Nashville was of the utmost importance, and was situated on this river, which was one of the finest streams of the West, he hoped the Senate would reject the amendment. The nature of the obstruction is so well known, that a previous survey could not be necessary. Mr. WEBSTER stated that the gentleman from Geor gia had put this on the ground of a test question, and that, if this motion prevailed, he would move afterwards to strike out other provisions of the bill. He wished to know what the other provisions were. Mr. HAYNE suggested other points on which he desir ed information. What was the amount of the appropri ations contained in this bill? Would these appropriations be sufficient to finish the works for which they are re quired? What was the amount required for new works! He expressed his satisfaction that the question was now fairly and solemnly made. He was of opinion that, if the Cumberland river, a new work not surveyed, was to be cleared by a national appropriation, every outlet and river of the Union could be cleared at the expense of the Unit ed States. After that was done, the Government would On motion of Mr. TIPTON, the Senate then proceed- be called on to make roads from one watercourse to aned to the consideration of executive business, [with other. a view, as he intimated, of acting on the nominations of officers for the newly created regiment of mounted gunmen.] [The report states the number of patents to be 10,590; and the cost of those which are written in the office at fifty-three cents, and of those written out of the office at thirty-nine cents each.] FRIDAY, JUNE 22. PENSION DUTIES. The resolution from the House, transferring the duties imposed by the pension bill from the Secretary of the Treasury to the Secretary of War, was taken up. Some discussion took place on the necessity for this transfer; and it was stated that the measure was proposed at the suggestion of the head of the Pension Bureau in the War Department, and that the object was to give an opportunity for the formation of a new bureau in that department. Mr. FORSYTH replied that there were three new works embraced in this bill. There was, first, an appro priation for the Arkansas river of 15,000 dollars. There was, secondly, the appropriation of 30,000 dollars for the Cumberland river; and the third was an appropriation of 20,000 dollars for repairing a road in the Territory of Ar kansas. He had thought there were four objects, but he discovered that the fourth (the Savannah river) was not a new work. The appropriations, as the bill stands, amount to 1,100,000 dollars. Some of the objects would require additional appropriations, and some additional ones to a considerable amount. He repeated that it was his object to get a decision that no new works should be embraced in this bill, as there was another bill into which they might be interwoven. Mr. WEBSTER said the proposition was to strike out JUNE 22, 1832.] OF DEBATES IN CONGRESS. 1122 [SENATE. this motion the yeas and nays were ordered. The question was then taken, and decided as follows: the appropriation for clearing out the obstructions to the| navigation of the Cumberland river. As a local object, he had no knowledge of the matter. pared to admit the principle that no measure in which But he was not prethere had not been a previous appropriation ought to be embraced in the bill or that a work should be excluded merely because there had been no survey. He had no objection to the appropriation, therefore, on that score. ton, Dallas, Dickerson, Dudley, Ewing, Foot, FrelingNAYS.--Messrs. Bell, Benton, Chambers, Clay, ClayHis vote would be governed by the information he should huysen, Hendricks, Holmes, Johnston, Kane, Marcy, receive from those who were best acquainted with the Naudain, Poindexter, Prentiss, Robbins, Robinson, Rugmatter, as to the importance of the work itself. The gles, Seymour, Silsbee, Sprague, Tipton, Tomlinson, gentleman from Tennessee could give this information. Webster, Wilkins.--29. This object is connected with two States, and, if the gentlemen from these States differ as to the expediency of the appropriation, it might be a reason for further reflection. He wished to hear from Tennessee on the subject. WEBSTER, Mr. TAZEWELL, Mr. SMITH, and Mr. The question was then taken on the motion of Mr. Mr. GRUNDY regarded the Cumberland river as next follows: FORSYTH to strike out the appropriation, and decided as in importance to the Mississippi and the Ohio rivers. The Kentucky river he considered as of trifling importance in lis, Foot, Forsyth, Hayne, Hill, King, Knight, Mangum, YEAS.-Messrs. Bell, Brown, Dickerson, Dudley, Elcomparison with the Cumberland. was of minor importance. So far as the national import- White.-20. The Tennessee river Marcy, Miller, Moore, Smith, Tazewell, Troup, Tyler, ance of the river could govern his vote, he was disposed to yield. He then stated that the obstructions to the Cum-ton, Dallas, Ewing, Frelinghuysen, Grundy, Hendricks, NAYS.-Messrs. Benton, Bibb, Chambers, Clay, Clayberland river were the Dover shoals and the Muscle Holmes, Johnston, Kane, Naudain, Poindexter, Prentiss, shoals. The latter, situated forty miles below Nashville, Robbins, Robinson, Ruggles, Seymour, Silsbee, Sprague, were the most formidable. He then took a view of the Tipton, Tomlinson, Webster, Wilkins.--26. importance of Nashville as a port and a commercial depot; and stated that, if any case ought to be taken where no So the amendment was negatived. survey had taken place, it ought to be this; and he was prepared to give his vote in favor of the appropriation, whenever the question should be taken. Mr. WHITE did not exactly concur with his colleague in his estimate of the importance of the Cumberland river. He himself considered several streams in the West as equal or superior in importance. Mr. GRUNDY explained, and was followed by Mr. TYLER, who wished to know where the line was to be drawn between a national and a local work. criterion was to be that a river or a road ran through two If the States or one State, whether it was to be a river of one hundred miles or of fifty miles; and whether there was to be a distinction between great national and little national works. an appropriation of four thousand five hundred dollars for Mr. FORSYTH moved to amend the bill by inserting the improvement of the harbor and river of St. Marks, in Florida. The motion was agreed to. Mr. WHITE then moved to lay the bill on the table. Mr. CLAYTON requested the gentleman to withdraw his motion, to afford him an opportunity for a few remarks. Mr. WHITE withdrew his motion. to the situation of many of the public works, which were Mr. CLAYTON then drew the attention of the Senate delayed by the very extraordinary hesitation of Congress in passing this bill, and particularly to the strong necessity of immediate action on the subject of an appropriaMr. WEBSTER expressed his sentiments in opposition Delaware breakwater. tion to continue that most important national work, the to the practice of measuring national objects by furlongs, tions had usually heretofore been passed at a much earlier roods, and perches, and of carrying a measuring stick by period of the session, and the delay of them until midThis and all similar appropriathe side of the streams for which appropriations were summer had now created the most serious embarrassasked. He stated that he was once asked why he had ments, both to the people who had been engaged in furvoted for a liberal appropriation for the harbor of Mobile. nishing stone for the breakwater, and others, and also to He replied by pointing to a statement of the loss of a Bos- the Government itself. ton vessel, of the value of 30,000 dollars, on the Mobile great embarrassment in drawing the industry which it bar; and thus finding that the interest felt in this improve- had employed since its commencement from new enIncrease of the expense, and ment was national, and not local. He insisted that the citi-gagements back to the former employment, would be zens of Massachusetts were as much interested in every the consequences of this delay. He referred to most snag which was taken out of the Mississippi, and every old pressing solicitations which he had received during the tree removed from the Ohio. not so much interested in the breakwater at the mouth of appropriation, and concluded with some remarks on the The State of Delaware was session from various quarters, urging the necessity of this her bay, as was the State of Massachusetts; and it being a great national importance and utility of the breakwater, work of this national charater, it was not to be expected and by urging the passage of the bill without further prothat Delaware, or New Jersey, or Pennsylvania, would crastination. He hoped the gentleman from Tennessee expend the amount of its construction. proposition of a new and grinding tax, of a system of it on the table. He stated that the would see the propriety of not renewing his motion to lay grievous oppression-the march of an army, the sweep of a pestilence, the approach of death, could not be spoken of with more horror than was a proposition to open a road, or make a canal, in this House. work for the common benefit, it ought to be paid for at As this was a the common charge. Having gone so far in support of the system of internal improvement, he was not now disposed to retrace his steps. After a few words from Mr. HOLMES, Mr. JOHN- Mr. WHITE withdrew his motion. "For removing obstructions and further improving the In offering the amendment, Mr. CLAY adverted to the SENATE.] Department of State.-Discriminating Duties with Spain.--President's Fac Simile. [June 23, 25, 1832. At the suggestion of Mr. FORSYTH, that the memorial was still before the Committee on Commerce for examination, and that the appropriation could be made in another bill about to be reported, Mr. CLAY withdrew his amendment. The bill was then reported to the Senate as amended, and the amendments being concurred in, the question was taken on the third reading of the bill, and decided in the affirmative, as follows: YEAS.-Messrs. Buckner, Chambers, Clay, Clayton, Dudley, Ewing, Foot, Frelinghuysen, Hendricks, Holmes, Johnston, Kane, Knight, Naudain, Prentiss, Robbins, Robinson, Ruggles, Seymour, Silsbee, Smith, Sprague, Tipton, Tomlinson, Webster, Wilkins.--26. NAYS.--Messrs. Bibb, Brown, Ellis, Forsyth, Grundy, Hayne, Kane, Mangum, Marcy, Miller, Tazewell, Tyler, White.--13. SATURDAY, JUNE 23. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. MONDAY, JUNE 25. DISCRIMINATING DUTIES WITH SPAIN. A message was received from the President of the United States, communicating a report from the Secreta Ty of State, on the subject of the abolition of the discri minating duties now existing on Spanish vessels. The report was read. It stated that despatches had been received from our minister in Spain, stating that an order had been issued by the Spanish Government abolishing the discriminating duties on American vessels, on cond tion that a similar abolition should be made by the United States. Mr. CLAY, at whose instance the report was read, sil he had found, as he feared, that this measure did not ex tend to Cuba, or the other islands of Spain. As the subject was about to be referred, and as, in relation to Cuba, almost the entire carrying trade was confined to Spain, he hoped the attention of the committee would be directed to that point. He was aware that the Secretary stated in his report that negotiations were going on; but he thought that a measure of this kind might be put into the hands of the Executive, to strengthen the pending nego tiation on the part of the United States. Some continger On motion of Mr. BIBB, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolution to authorize the Secretary of State to provision as to the carrying trade with Cuba, and the apply the balance which may remain after the comple-minister in Spain, could not but be favorable to the ab other Spanish possessions, placed in the hands of our ject which he had in view. If no remedy should shorty Mr. BIBB briefly explained that he had information be applied, Spain would soon monopolize the whok of from the Secretary of State that a surplus would remain the carrying trade between the United States and Cuta after the business of the Patent Office was finished. He and the other Spanish islands. stated that there was great difficulty now in finding papers. They were tied up in bundles, and put away on shelves. His object was to have them assorted, numbered, and indexed, for the facility of access. tion of the work in the Patent Office to the arrangement of the papers in the State Department. Mr. MANGUM regarded the difficulty as arising altogether from the absence of order and industry in the department. Mr. FOOT said that the blessed effects of the removals of clerks were made evident by this resolution. He stated that, previous to the commencement of the present administration, he had never found any difficulty or detention in the obtainment of papers; but, after the removal of eight clerks in that single department, it was not to be wondered at. It was owing to the want of order that the papers were not filed and arranged. After a few words from Mr. JOHNSTON in favor of the resolution, Mr. WHITE moved to lay the resolution on the table, in order that the Senate might proceed to the consideration of executive business; while the resolution was pending, The act making appropriations for certain internal im- The question was then put, and decided as follows: YEAS.-Messrs. Bell, Benton, Chambers, Clay, Clayton, Dallas, Dickerson, Dudley, Ewing, Foot, Frelinghuysen, Hendricks, Holmes, Johnston, Kane, Knight, Naudain, Prentiss, Robbins, Robinson, Ruggles, Seymour, Silsbee, Smith, Tipton, Tomlinson, Webster, Wil kins.--28. The message was referred to the Committee on Finance, On motion of Mr. KING, the Senate proceeded to the consideration of the bill to appoint a recorder for the Ge neral Land Office, and to provide the means of signing and issuing the patents for the public lands-the question being on the reconsideration of the vote taken on Mr. FORSYTH'S amendment, providing for affixing the fac simile of the President's signature to the patents. Mr. POINDEXTER said he had rather the motion prevailed. At any rate, if the bill passed as it then was, would create an anomaly unknown in this or any other Government; it would be clothing a subordinate officer with the highest attribute of sovereignty-the disposi of the public domain. He would oppose the bill on this ground, and also on the ground that there were ten the sand patents already prepared for signature, which te Commissioner of the General Land Office said could be altered, but which, he contended, could not, that East be lost. With a view of obviating these difficulties, Mr P. submitted an amendment providing that, hereafter, i shall not be necessary for the President to sign the pa tents for the public lands, but that the Commissioner of the General Land Office shall affix to them the great seal of the United States, and also sign them as commission The great seal, then, said Mr. P., will be the evidence f the title, and the signature of the commissioner will g ranty the purity of the grant. Mr. HOLMES observed that the power of signing the patents did not arise from any inherent sovereignty in the President, but from the authority given him by law; and we can give, said he, that authority to any officer as as to the President. The sovereignty was in the United States, and the act of sovereignty in the transfer of the public domain was performed by them through the officer designated by law. This expedient of a fac simile, or a counterfeit, as it might more correctly be termed, he di not much like. The much better way would be to take a responsible officer, and let him put the great seal, tige ther with his own signature, in the patent. Perhaps the difficulty might be got over when we had a President with a shorter name, and then we could get on pretty much in ENE 25, 1832.] Statue of Washington. [SENATE. e old way. Suppose, for instance, the President's name thought the suggestion of the gentleman from Massachu. n in only five letters-H. CLAY--it would not take up so setts entitled to much weight. The State of Virginia, uch time to fill up patents with these few letters, and we which was the greatest sovereign grantor of land, with the ould not, probably, hear any complaints of the difficulty exception of the United States, had the form of her grant signing them. But, to be serious, it would be much for land designated by law; and the State of Kentucky, etter to create an officer, and confer on him the power following her example, had made the same provision. authenticate the patents, than to take this circuitous He did not think with the gentleman from Massachuay of a fac simile, in order to keep up the idea that the setts that one signature would be sufficient, and he thereresident is the sole representative of the sovereign power fore hoped that the gentleman from Alabama would agree to the insertion of the form of the patent, and retain every thing else in the bill as it then stood. the United States. Mr. KING observed, if the gentleman from Maine was rious, he must see that it mattered not who the President Mr. KANE did not think it of much consequence by as, or whether his name was long or short--he must, in whom the patent was signed. The patent was to furnish der to sign these patents, devote to it time that ought the purchaser with the best evidence that he had acquir be occupied with the more important concerns of the ed the legal title to his land. He saw no necessity for inountry. The Senator from Mississippi had abandoned serting in the body of the law what the form of the grant me of his objections, but proposes to affix the great should be; all that was wanted was a certificate of the eal of the United States to the land patents. Why, sir, proper officer of the Government that the individual had e have already a seal; not the great seal, to be sure, but acquired his title under the laws of the United States. very convenient one, sufficient to authenticate the grant; The patent did not confer the title; that was previously nd with this and the signature of the commissioner, coun-acquired by law; it was only a legal and durable evidence ersigned by the recorder, the patent will be complete. of title. ky that the form of the patent ought to be embodied in the law; and, as he had no objection to the reconsideration, he would vote for it, and then move to recommit the bill for the purpose of having the form of the patent inserted. The question was then taken, and the vote on the adoption of Mr. FORSYTH'S amendment reconsidered. Mr. POINDEXTER then moved to recommit the bill to the Committee on Public Lands, and it was carried in the affirmative. STATUE OF WASHINGTON. le did not admit that there would be any loss on account Mr. POINDEXTER said that the bill ought to go into f the 10,000 patents spoken of by the gentleman from operation at a day sufficiently remote, to enable the Preississippi. One-half of these were signed, and the sident to complete the signature of the 6,000 patents yet thers he presumed could be signed before the bill went to be signed. He thought with the Senator from Kentuc to operation. The documents showed that, since the ommencement of the present session, the President had gned more than 10,000, and that there were 40,000 more sign. Did any Senator believe that it was necessary or the President himself to sign the patents, in order to ive more validity to the grants? If this was not so, ould it not be better to pass this law to remove the difculties encountered by the people of the new States in etting their patents? Gentlemen all seem to admit the fficulties under the present system, but could not agree a the mode of meeting them. One wanted a fac simile f the present signature; and another wanted the great The Senate then, on motion of Mr. ROBBINS, took up al of the United States. The only effect of this was to for consideration the joint resolution, (as amended by the reate delay, while the public business was suffering. Committee on the Library,) authorizing the President to Mr. WEBSTER inquired of the chairman of the commit-contract for a full length pedestrian statue, in marble, of e, [Mr. KING,] what seal was now affixed to the patents. General Washington, to be placed in the rotundo, with an Mr. KING replied, the seal of the General Land Office. appropriation of $5,000. Mr. WEBSTER said he hoped the chairman of the ɔmmittee would not attribute any observations of his to a resumption of more knowledge of the subject than the ommittee who had charge of it. He entirely agreed with e gentleman that the President ought to be relieved om the labor of signing the patents, and he did not gard the expense necessary to accomplish this object. With regard to the authentication of the grant, he did not ink it a matter of so little importance. It ought to run the name of the grantee-the United States, and be acmpanied by a seal; but it could not be the great seal, r that was in the custody of the Department of State. e did not know whether the seal of the General Land ffice was recognised by law, but this might be done. Mr. FORSYTH could see no occasion for the approprie would further suggest to the gentleman from Alabama ation which had been introduced into the resolution; it draw up the form of the patent, and embody it in was a departure from the object of the resolution itself, e bill; and then, by making the seal the great evidence which was merely for the President "to make a conits authenticity, one signature to the patent would be tract." It could not be supposed that $5,000 would be fficient. any use, for he believed that a work, such as contemMr. ROBINSON was much pleased with the sugges-plated, could not be had completed for less than 20 or n of the gentleman from Massachusetts, and thought the 25,000 dollars. rm of the patent ought to be provided for by law. Mr. POINDEXTER explained. It was not expected Mr. CLAY was satisfied, from his own observation and that the appropriation would cover the full cost. litical knowledge of the subject, that some change in merely to enable the President to take the preliminary e mode of issuing land patents was necessary, not only steps in making the contract. The general appropriation the personal comfort of the President, but for the de- bill had originally contained two appropriations, one in reatch of the public business. Any one who would visit gard to this memorial of Washington, the other in regard e President in the morning, would find that, instead of to Mr. Jefferson. They had both been stricken out on being occupied with the great concerns of the country, account of their supposed informality, to be introduced as was engaged in the tedious labor of signing patents. He separate measures. Mr. FORSYTH inquired the object of this appropriation; if it were contemplated as sufficient for the purpose. As giving a full view of the subject, Mr. POINDEXTER requested the report of the Library Committee to be read. It detailed the proceedings had in the House of Representatives, where the resolution had originally been adopted, authorizing the employment of Mr. Greenough, the American artist, to execute the work; and contained a copy of a letter from the Department of State, informing Mr. Greenough, now in Italy, thereof, with instructions respecting the same; the head to be modelled after that of Houdon's statue, the rest of the outlines to be left to the artist's own taste, &c. It was |