their wants, administer to their comforts, and gradually, as the game retires, draw them to us. By maintaining posts far in the interior, we acquire a more thorough and direct control over them; without which it is confidently believed that a complete change in their manners can never be accomplished. By such posts, aided by a proper regulation of our trade with them, and a judicious civil administration over them, to be provided for by law, we shall it is presumed be enabled not only to protect our own settlements from their savage incursions, and preserve peace among the several tribes, but accomplish also the great purpose of their civilization. Considerable progress has also been made in the construction of ships of war, some of which have been launched in the course of the present year. SENATE. Mr. DICKERSON submitted the following motion for consideration: Resolved, That a committee of three members be appointed, who, with three members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by that House, shall have the direction of the money appropriated to the purchase of books and maps for the use of the two Houses of Congress. On motion, by Mr. ROBERTS, Resolved, That the Senate will, on Monday next, at twelve o'clock, proceed to the appointment of the Standing Committees. FRIDAY, November 17. JAMES LANMAN, from the State of Connecticut, arrived yesterday, and attended this day. Mr. SANFORD submitted the following motions for consideration: Resolved, That so much of the Message of the President of the United States as concerns our rela tions with Spain and with France, be referred to the Committee of Foreign Relations. Our peace with the Powers on the coast of Barbary has been preserved, but we owe it altogether to the presence of our squadron in the Mediterranean. It has been found equally necessary to employ some of our vessels for the protection of our commerce in the Indian sea, the Pacific, and along the Atlantic coast. The interests which we have depending in those quarters, which have been much improved of late, are of great extent, and of high importance to the nation, as well as to the parties concerned, and would undoubt-ident of the United States as relates to Finance, be Resolved, That so much of the Message of the Presedly suffer if such protection was not extended to them. In execution of the law of the last session, for the suppression of the slave trade, some of our public ships have also been employed on the coast of Africa, where several captures have already been made of vessels engaged in that disgraceful traffic. THURSDAY, November 16. Mr. JOHNSON, of Kentucky, submitted the following motion for consideration: Resolved, That it is expedient to make provision, by law, to authorize any person who has purchased public linquish to the United States so much thereof as may not be paid for, and retain such portion of the original purchase as may amount to the sums of money actually paid, at the price for which the land was purchased. Mr. WALKER, of Alabama, gave notice that, tomorrow, he should ask leave to bring in a bill to provide for altering the times of holding the district courts in the State of Alabama. lands, and not made full payment for the same, to re Mr. BURRILL submitted the following motion for consideration: Resolved, That the act, entitled "An act allowing compensation to the members of the Senate, members of the House of Representatives of the United States, and to the delegates of the Territories, and repealing all other laws on the subject," passed at the first session of the fifteenth Congress, ought to be so altered and amended that the compensation to the members and delegates aforesaid, shall hereafter be six dollars for each day's attendance, and six dollars for every twenty miles travel, instead of the compensation now allowed by said act, and that it be referred to a committee to prepare and report a bill for altering and amending said act accordingly. referred to the Committee of Finance. ident of the United States as relates to the debt due Resolved, That so much of the Message of the Presfor the sale of public lands, be referred to the Com mittee on Public Lands. Resolved, That so much of the Message of the President of the United States as relates to the Indian tribes, be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. tained leave to bring in a bill to alter the terms of Mr. WALKER, of Alabama, asked and and obthe district court in Alabama, and the bill was twice read by unanimous consent, and referred to a select committee to consider and report thereon; and Messrs. WALKER, of Alabama, BURRILL, and KING, of Alabama, were appointed the committee. The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion of the 16th instant, respecting the compensation of the members and delegates of Congress, and the further consideration thereof was postponed until next Monday week. The Senate resumed the consideration of the resolution for the appointment of a joint committee on the arrangements for the Library of Congress, and having agreed thereto, Messrs. DICKERSON, DANA, and HUNTER, were appointed the committee. informed the Senate that the House concur in the A message from the House of Representatives resolution of the Senate for the appointment of Chaplains, and have appointed the Rev. J. N. CAMPBELL, Chaplain on their part. ceeded to the election of a Chaplain on their part; On motion by Mr. WILSON, the Senate proand, on counting the ballots, it appeared that the Rev. WILLIAM RYLAND was duly elected. The PRESIDENT communicated a letter from the Commissioner of the General Land Office, transmitting copies of the reports of the Land Commissioners at Jackson Courthouse, and a copy of a letter, dated 17th August, 1820, which accompanied them; which were read. The PRESIDENT also communicated a report of the Secretary of the Treasury, made in obedience to a resolution of the Senate of the 3d April, 1820, directing him to "cause to be prepared, and laid before the Senate, at the commencement of the next session of Congress, a statement of money annually appropriated, and paid, since the Declaration of Independence, for purchasing from the Indians, surveying, and selling the public lands, showing, as near as may be, the quantities of land which have been purchased, the number of acres which have been surveyed, the number sold, and the number which remain unsold; the amount of sales, the amount of forfeitures, the sums paid by purchasers, and the sums due from purchasers and from receivers in each land district;" and the report was read. The PRESIDENT also communicated a report of the Secretary of the Treasury, made in obedience to a resolution of the Senate, directing him to cause to be prepared, and laid before the Senate, at the commencement of the next session of Congress, a statement of the money which has been annually appropriated and paid, since the year seventeen hundred and seventy-five, for surveying the seacoast, bays, inlets, harbors, and shoals, and for erecting, and keeping in repair, lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and for the purchase of ground for lighthouses, distinguishing the places where they have been erected, and the sums annually expended for keeping and supplying the same;" and the report was read. Adjourned to Monday. MONDAY, November 20. JOHN ELLIOTT, and also, FREEMAN WALKER, from the State of Georgia, severally arrived, on the 17th instant, and attended this day. Mr. WALKER, of Alabama, from the committee to whom was referred the bill to alter the terms of the district court in Alabama, reported the same without amendment, and it was considered as in Committee of the Whole, and no amendment having been proposed thereto, it was reported to the House; and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. Mr. WALKER, of Alabama, submitted the following motions for consideration: Resolved, That it is expedient to provide for the relief of purchasers of the public lands, by dividing the sums now severally unpaid, exclusive of interest, into equal instalments; each instalment bearing interest only from the time at which it shall be made payable. Resolved, That it is expedient to permit such purchasers of the public lands as may elect that mode, to surrender, within months from and after the day of next, their certificates, which shall be cancelled, and the lands shall be taken to have reverted and become forfeited to the United States, and shall be advertised, and sold for cash at public auction, to the highest bidder, in the same manner as other public lands. They shall not be sold for less than one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, which sum shall go to the use of the United States, in addition to the sums already paid; but if said lands should be so re NOVEMBER, 1820. sold for more than one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, the excess shall be paid to the person surrendering the certificate, provided such excess shall never be greater than the amount actually paid on such lands before such surrender. Resolved, That it is expedient to permit such purchasers of the public lands as may elect that mode, to extinguish their debt, complete their titles, and demand and receive patents, by paying, within the peday of riod of one year from and after the the original price at which their lands were purchased, next, into their respective land offices, five-eighths of including interest, and computing the moneys already paid as part of the said final payment of five-eighths. Resolved, That it is expedient, in addition to the privilege contemplated in the preceding resolution, to permit such purchasers of the public lands as may elect that mode, at any time within the said period of one year from and after the day of next, to forfeit and abandon to the United States such fractions, quarter sections, and half quarter sections, as they may deem fit; and to transfer and apply the moneys already paid on the tract or tracts so forfeited to the payment for such other fraction, quarter section, or half quarter section as they may choose to retain; and in cases where the purchaser has bought only one quarter section, he shall be permitted to divide it, and make his election between its halvessuch division being made by a north and south line according to law. The PRESIDENT communicated a letter from the Secretary of State of the United States, requesting an additional supply of documents, printed by order of the Senate; and the letter was read, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Senate resumed the consideration of Mr. SANFORD'S motions of the 17th instant, for referring to various committees the Message of the President of the United States; and agreed thereto. STANDING COMMITTEES. The Senate then, pursuant to the order of the day, proceeded to the appointment, by ballot, of the standing committees, which resulted in the distribution of the members, as follows: On the Committee of Foreign Relations-Messrs. BARBOUR, MACON, BROWN, HUNTER, and KING of New York. On Finance-Messrs. SANFORD, MACON, DANA, EATON, and HOLMES of Maine. On Commerce and Manufactures-Messrs. DICKERSON, RUGGLES, BURRILL, HORSEY, and SANFORD. On Military Affairs-Messrs. WILLIAMS of Tennessee, TRIMBLE, TAYLOR, ELLIOTT, and JOHNSON of Kentucky. On the Militia-Messrs. NOBLE, TICHENOR, STOKES, LANMAN, and CHANDLER. On Naval Affairs-Messrs. PLEASANTS, PARROTT, WILLIAMS of Mississippi, WALKER of Alabama, and WALKER of Georgia. On the Public Lands-Messrs. THOMAS, TAYLOR, LOWRIE, EATON, and VAN DYKE. On Indian Affairs-Messrs. HOLMES of Mississippi, JOHNSON of Kentucky, JOHNSON of Louisiana, KING of Alabama, and LOWRIE. TUESDAY, November 21. Mr. WILLIAMS, of Tennessee, presented the memorial of William Kelly, on behalf of himself and divers others, claimants of land in the Territory of Arkansas, under Elisha and William Winter, deceased; and the memorial was read, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. HOLMES, of Maine, presented the memorial of the delegates from the commercial and agricultural sections of the State of Maine, met in convention at Portland, protesting against the proposed tariff; and the memorial was read, and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures. The PRESIDENT communicated the memorial of Matthew Lyon, of Eddyville, Kentucky, praying compensation for certain losses and sufferings under the act commonly called the Sedition law; and the memorial was read, and referred to a select committee; and Messrs. BARBOUR, JOHNSON of Kentucky, and BURRILL, were appointed the committee. Mr. PLEASANTS presented the memorial of the merchants and other inhabitants of the town of Petersburg, in the State of Virginia, in opposition to the proposed tariff; and the memorial was read, and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures. Mr. HOLMES, of Mississippi, presented the petition of Clarissa Scott, widow of the late Colonel William Scott, of the State of Mississippi, praying the confirmation of her title to a certain tract of land, as stated in the petition; which was read, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. JOHNSON, of Kentucky, presented the petition of Rufus Easton, for himself and heirs of James Bruff, praying the confirmation of their title to a certain tract of land, as stated in the petition; which was read, and referred to the same committee. The bill to alter the terms of the district court in Alabama was read a third time, and passed. Mr. DICKERSON, after a few remarks reiterating his desire for the passage of the measure, and his continued confidence in its importance and utility, gave notice that he should, on to-morrow, ask leave to introduce a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution, in relation to the appointment of Electors of President and Vice SENATE. President of the United States, and members of the House of Representatives, [which was introduced by Mr. D., and passed the Senate at the last session; and was introduced yesterday in the House of Representatives by Mr. SMITH, of North Carolina.] WEDNESDAY, November 22. Mr. NOBLE presented the petition of sundry citizens of the Western States, purchasers of public lands, praying that a law may be passed enabling them to apply the payments already made, to such portions of their entries as those payments will cover, at two dollars an acre, agreeably to the law under which the entries were made, relinquishing the residue to the United States. And also allowing those purchasers who have purchased but one tract, the privilege of retaining it entire, with a reasonable extension of credit without interest, or otherwise relinquishing a part of it; and the petition was read, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. THOMAS presented two memorials of the Legislature of the State of Missouri, praying of Congress some legislative provisions for the relief of indigent actual settlers on the public lands, particularly widows and orphans; and the memorials were severally read, and respectively referred to the same committee. Mr. DICKERSON obtained leave to introduce a resolution, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, as it respects the election of Representatives in Congress, and the choice of Electors of President and Vice President of the United States; and the resolution was read, and passed to the second reading. Mr. EATON obtained leave to introduce a bill for the relief of Robert Purdy; and the bill was read, and passed to the second reading. The Senate resumed the consideration of the motions of Mr. WALKER of the 20th instant, in relation to purchasers of the public lands; and they were referred to the Committee on Public Lands. The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion of Mr. JOHNSON of the 16th instant, in relation to the same subject; and it was referred to the same committee. THURSDAY, November 23. Mr. NOBLE Submitted the following motion for consideration : Resolved, That the Committee on Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of permitting such purchasers of the public lands, prior to the 1st of July, 1820, to demand and receive patents, who have paid into their respective land offices the first, second, and third instalments, on each tract purchased. Mr. THOMAS Submitted the following motion for consideration: Resolved, That the Committee on Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing, by law, for granting to actual settlers on the public lands the right of pre-emption in becoming the purchasers of lands, including their improvements. The resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, as it respects the election of Representatives in Congress, and the choice of Electors of President and Vice President of the United States, was read the second time, and referred to a select committee, to consist of five members, to consider and report thereon; and Messrs. DICKERSON, BARBOUR, MACON, HOLMES, of Mississippi, and HOLMES, of Maine, were appointed the committee. The bill for the relief of Robert Purdy was read the second time, and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. KING, of New York, presented the memorial of Ebenezer Stevens and others, praying that Congress would afford them relief, on account of a demand against the United States, arising out of certain contracts entered into with Robert Morris, Esq., for the supply of provisions to the Army of the United States during the Revolutionary war; and the memorial was read, and referred to the Committee of Claims. RESTRICTION OF SLAVERY. Mr. SANFORD Communicated the following resolutions, passed by the Legislature of the State of New York; which were read. STATE OF NEW YORK, In Assembly, November 13, 1820. Whereas the Legislature of this State, at the last session, did instruct their Senators and request their Representatives in Congress to oppose the admission, as a State into the Union, of any Territory not comprised within the original boundaries of the United States, without making the prohibition of slavery therein an indispensable condition of admission: And whereas this Legislature is impressed with the correctness of the sentiments so communicated to our Senators and Representatives; therefore, Resolved, (if the honorable the Senate concur herein,) That this Legislature does approve of the principles contained in the resolutions of the last session; and, further, if the provisions contained in any proposed constitution of a new State deny to any citizens of the existing States the privileges and immunities of citizens of such new State, that such proposed constitution should not be accepted or confirmed; the same, in the opinion of this Legislature, being void by the Constitution of the United States. And that our Senators be instructed, and our Representatives in Congress be requested, to use their utmost exertions to prevent the acceptance and confirmation of any such constitution. Resolved, (if the honorable the Senate concur here in,) That the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly do cause copies of these resolutions, duly certified by them, to be transmitted to the Senators and Representatives in Congress from this State. Ordered, That the clerk deliver a copy of the preceding resolutions to the honorable the Senate, and request their concurrence to the same. PETER SHARPE, Speaker. Attest-DL. VAN DU WEYDER, Clerk of Assembly. | NOVEMBER, 1820. Mr. WILSON presented the memorial of James Leander Cathcart, praying the passage of a law directing the accounting officers of the Treasury to allow his claim upon the Government, in the settlement of his accounts, as stated in the memorial; which was read, and referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. WALKER, of Alabama, submitted the following motion for consideration: be instructed to inquire into the expediency of securing Resolved, That the Committee on the Public Lands to actual settlers, in all cases where the lands they occupy shall be sold after the first day of March, in any year, the right of remaining on the same until they shall have gathered their growing crop. Mr. HORSEY presented the petition of the President and Directors of the Farmers' Bank of Alexandria, in the District of Columbia, praying the extension of their charter for twenty years, from and after the 1st day of June, 1822; and the petition was read, and referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia. Charles Larrabee, of the Army of the United States, Mr. TRIMBLE presented the petition of Major the service of the United States, as stated in the praying remuneration for losses sustained while in petition; which was read, and referred to the Committee of Claims. The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion of the 23d instant, in relation to actual settlers on the public lands, and agreed thereto. The Senate also resumed the consideration of the motion of the 23d instant, in relation to certain purchasers of the public lands, and agreed thereto. The Senate adjourned to Monday. MONDAY, November 27. HARRISON GRAY OTIS, from the State of Massachusetts, arrived on the 25th instant; and WILLIAM HUNTER, from the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, arrived on the 24th instant, severally attended this day. ISHAM TALBOT, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of Kentucky, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of William Logan, produced his credentials, was qualified, and he took his seat in the Senate. The PRESIDENT communicated the memorial of a convention of Delegates, representing the merchants and others interested in commerce, assembled at Philadelphia, against the proposed tariff; and the memorial was read, and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures. The PRESIDENT also communicated the memoResolved, That the Senate do concur with the hon-rial of Joseph Wheaton, late deputy quartermaster STATE OF NEW YORK, In Senate, November 15, 1820. The Message and report were read. Mr. WALKER, of Alabama, presented the petition of John Holmes, of Alabama, praying compensation for the loss of a horse, as stated in the petition; which was read, and referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. WALKER, of Alabama, also presented the petition of Dr. David Moore, praying relief in the settlement of his account for medical services rendered certain sick soldiers, under the command of Colonel John Coffee, engaged in an expedition against the Creek Indians in the year 1813; which was read, and referred to the same committee. Mr. JOHNSON, of Louisiana, presented the petition of Presly Kemper, of the State of Ohio, praying compensation for services rendered in the capacity of principal wagonmaster, in the year 1812, under General William Hull; and also payment of the balance due for a horse and accoutrements, taken by the enemy at Detroit; which was read, and referred to the same committee. Mr. JOHNSON, of Louisiana, gave notice that to-morrow he should ask leave to bring in a bill granting to the people of the county of Point Coupee, in the State of Louisiana, for the purposes therein mentioned, two tracts of land. Mr. EATON gave notice that to-morrow he should ask leave to bring in a bill for the relief of the officers and volunteers engaged against the Seminole Indians in the year 1818. TUESDAY, November 28. SENATE. Mr. NOBLE submitted the following motion for consideration: Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing by law so much of the western and northern boundaries of the State of Indiana to be surveyed, marked, and designated, as divides said State from the State of Illinois and Territory of Michigan, agreeably to the boundaries as established by the act, entitled "An act to enable the people of the Indiana Territory to form a constitution and State government, and for the admission of such State into the Union on an equal footing with the original States," passed April 19, 1816. Mr. NOBLE presented the memorial of Eliza Dill, Jane Jervis, and Louisa St. C. Robb, daughters of the late General Arthur St. Clair, praying the payment of the balance stated to be due to their deceased father; and the memorial was read, and referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. CHANDLER presented the petition of Moses Wing, of Maine, praying an increase of his pension; and the petition was read, and referred to the Committee on Pensions. Mr. NOBLE presented the petition of Alexander Irvine, of Indiana, praying an increase of pension; and the petition was read, and referred to the same committee. The bill entitled "An act to provide for paying to the State of Illinois three per cent. of the net proceeds arising from the sale of the public lands within the same," was read the second time, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. EATON obtained leave to bring in a bill for the relief of the officers and volunteers engaged in the late campaign against the Seminole Indians; and the bill was read, and passed to the second reading. WEDNESDAY, November 29. EDWARD LLOYD, from the State of Maryland, attended. Mr. SMITH, from the committee to whom was The Senate resumed the consideration of the referred the constitution, as adopted for the govmotion of the 16th instant, relating to the compen-ernment of the State of Missouri, reported a resosation to the members and delegates to Congress; and the further consideration thereof was postponed until Monday next. The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion of the 24th instant, for instructing the Committee on Public Lands to inquire into the expediency of securing to certain actual settlers, when the lands they occupy shall be sold, the right of remaining on the same until they shall have gathered their growing crops; and agreed thereto. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House have passed a bill entitled "An act to provide for paying to the State of Illinois three per cent. of the net proceeds arising from the sale of the public lands within the same;" in which bill they request the concurrence of the Senate. The bill was read, and passed to the second reading. And the Senate then adjourned. lution declaring the admission of the State of Missouri into the Union; and the resolution was read, and passed to the second reading. Mr. LANMAN presented the petition of Park Avery, stating that he has been erroneously placed on the pension list as a private soldier, and praying the pension, to which by law he is entitled, as a commissioned officer; and the petition was read, and referred to the Committee on Pensions. Mr. JOHNSON, of Kentucky, gave notice that, tomorrow, he should ask leave to bring in a bill to incorporate the Columbian Society for literary |
