in their offices, and of the Librarian," approved the 18th day of April, 1818; and, the same having been amended, it was reported to the House accordingly; and, the amendment being concurred in, the bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. It was then read the third time by unanimous consent, and passed. The bill supplemental to "An act to authorize the appointment of commissioners to lay out the road therein mentioned," was read the third time, and passed. The bill to provide for the due execution of the laws of the United States within the State of Missouri, was read the third time, and passed. The bill to amend the act, entitled "An act supplementary to an act, entitled 'An act to regulate the collection of duties on imports and tonnage," passed the 2d day of March, 1799, was read the third time, and passed. The bill entitled "An act making appropriations for the public buildings," was read the third time as amended, and passed. The amendments to the bill, entitled "An act to alter and establish certain post roads," having been reported by the committee correctly engrossed, the bill was further amended by unanimous consent, and was read the third time as amended, and passed. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill, entitled "An act for the relief of John Webster;" and no amendment having been proposed, it was reported to the House, and passed to a third reading. The bill was then read the third time by unanimous consent, and passed. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill, entitled "An act to authorize the President of the United States to establish a port of entry in the district of Sandusky, in the State of Ohio, and for other purposes," together with the amendment reported thereto by the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures; and the amendment having been agreed to, the bill was reported to the House accordingly, and the amendment being concurred in, it was ordered to be engrossed, and the bill read a third time as amended. The bill was then read the third time as amended, and passed. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in ComImittee of the Whole, the bill, entitled "An act authorizing the Secretary of State to issue letters patent to Thomas Oxley ;" and no amendment having been proposed, it was reported to the House, and passed to a third reading. The bill was then read the third time by unanimous consent, and passed. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill, entitled "An act making appropriations for the support of the Navy of the United States for the year 1821;" and the same having been amended, it was reported to the House accordingly; and the amendment being concurred in, it was ordered to be engrossed and the bill be read a third time as amended. The bill was then read the third time as amended by unanimous consent, and passed. SENATE. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill, entitled "An act for the relief of Daniel McDuff;" and, on motion by Mr. ROBERTS, it was laid on the table. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill, entitled "An act to fix and equalize the pay of the officers in the Army of the United States;" and, on motion by Mr.. WILLIAMS, of Tennessee, it was laid on the table. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the resolution from the House of Representatives providing for jails in certain cases for the safe custody of persons imprisoned under the authority of the United States; and, no amendment having been proposed, it was reported to the House, and passed to a third reading. The resolution was then read the third time by unanimous consent, and passed. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill, entitled "An act further to amend the several acts relative to the Treasury, War, and Navy Departments;" and, on motion by Mr. MILLS, it was laid on the table. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill, entitled "An act for the relief of Robert Buntin ;" and the same having been amended, it was reported to the House accordingly, and the amendment being concurred in, was ordered to be engrossed and the bill be read a third time as amended. Mr. THOMAS, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill confirming certain claims to land in the State of Illinois, reported it without amendment; and it was laid on the table. Ordered, That the following bills which originated in the Senate severally lie on the table, viz: A bill giving the right of pre-emption to William Doak and Noble Osborne; a 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;" a bill concerning divorces and alimony in the District of Columbia; a bill to designate the boundaries of a land district and for the establishment of a land office in the State of Indiana; a bill for the relief of Dean Weymouth; a bill granting to the corporation of the city of Mobile, in the State of Alabama, certain lots of ground in said city; a bill to empower the Levy Court for the county of Washington to discontinue a certain road therein mentioned; a bill explanatory of the act for the relief of John H. Piatt. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that they have passed a bill, entitled "An act authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States to sell and convey a certain tract of land in Northumberland county, in the State of Virginia;" in which bill they request the concurrence of the Senate. The bill last brought up for concurrence was twice read by unanimous consent; and referred to the Committee on Finance. Mr. SANFORD, from the Committee on Finance, reported the last mentioned bill without amend ment. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the last mentioned bill; and no amendment having been proposed, it was reported to the House; and passed to a third reading. The bill was read the third time by unanimous consent, and passed. Mr. HOLMES, of Mississippi, communicated a letter signed by a number of chiefs of the Choctaw nation of Indians, addressed to Andrew Jackson and Thomas Hinds, requesting to be permitted by law to become citizens of the United States; and the letter was read, and laid on the table. MARCH, 1821. of the resolution of the first instant, to provide for the payment of a balance due on the settlement of the accounts of Alexander James Dallas. On motion, by Mr. RUGGLES, the Committee of Claims were discharged from the consideration of the petition of Josephus B. Stuart. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill, entitled "An act to regulate the location of land warrants and the issuing of patents in certain cases," together with the amendments reported thereto by the Committee on Public Lands; and, the amendments The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Com- being agreed to, the bill was reported to the House mittee of the Whole, the three resolutions of the amended; and, the amendments being concurred 27th February, to compensate certain attendants in, were ordered to be engrossed, and the bill be on the Senate; and the last of them having been read a third time as amended. The bill was then amended, they were reported to the House accord-read the third time as amended by unanimous coningly; and, the amendments being concurred in, sent, and passed. the resolutions were ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill, entitled "An act to authorize the building of lighthouses on Cross and Pond Island, in the harbor of Boothbay, and at the mouth of Oswego river, and placing buoys on the Shoals of Nantucket and Vineyard Sound, near the harbor of Wickford, and on the Altamaha river, and for other purposes," together with the amendments reported thereto by the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures; and the said amendments having been amended, they were agreed to, and the bill was reported to the House accordingly; and, the amendments being concurred in, they were ordered to be engrossed, and the bill be read a third time as amended. The bill was then read the third time as amended by unanimous consent, and passed, and the title was amended to read "An act to authorize the building of lighthouses therein mentioned, and for other purposes." SATURDAY, March 3. The credentials of BENJAMIN RUGGLES, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of Ohio, for the term of six years, commencing on the fourth instant, were read, and laid on file. The following Message was received from the I communicate to the two Houses of Congress copies On motion, by Mr. SANFORD, the Committee on Finance were discharged from the consideration The following resolutions were respectively read a third time, and passed: Resolved, That Robert Tweedy, Tobias Simpson, and George Hicks, assistants to the Sergeant-at-arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, be paid out of the contingent fund two dollars a day for each day they may have attended the Senate during the present session of Congress; and that Henry Tims be allowed one hundred dollars for his attendance during the present session. Resolved, That there be paid out of the contingent fund to Robert Tweedy, Tobias Simpson, and George Hicks, the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars each for extra services. R. B. Washburn, out of the contingent fund of the Resolved, That the Secretary be authorized to pay Senate, at the rate of four dollars per day for the time during which he has been employed in the Secretary's office during the present session. Buntin," was read the third time as amended, and passed. The bill entitled "An act for the relief of Robert A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that they have passed a bill, military service of the United States for the year entitled "An act making appropriations for the 1821;" in which they request the concurrence of the Senate. The bill last brought up for concurrence was twice read by unanimous consent; and referred to the Committee on Finance. Mr. SANFORD, from the Committee on Finance, reported the last mentioned bill with amendments, which were read. Whereupon, the Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the last mentioned bill, together with the amendments reported thereto by the Committee on Finance; and the amendments having been agreed to, the President reported the bill to the House accordingly; and, the amendments being concurred be read a third time as amended. in, they were ordered to be engrossed, and the bill The Senate adjourned to seven o'clock, P. M. Seven o'clock, P. M. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House have passed bills of the following titles, viz: "An act to authorize the President of the United States to borrow a sum not exceeding four millions five hundred thousand dollars;" "An act for carrying into execution the treaty between the United States and Spain, concluded at Washington on the 22d day of February, 1819;" "An act to amend the act, entitled 'An act for the gradual increase of the Navy of the United States;" "An act to amend an act, entitled 'An act for regulating process in the courts of the United States ;" and "An act to establish an additional land office in the Territory of Michigan;" in which they request the concurrence of the Senate. The five bills last mentioned were severally read twice by unanimous consent. The bill, entitled "An act to authorize the President of the United States to borrow a sum not exceeding four millions five hundred thousand dollars," was referred to the Committee on Finance. Mr. SANFORD, from the Committee on Finance, reported the last mentioned bill with amendments; which were read. The Senate proceeded to consider the said bill and amendments, as in Committee of the Whole; and, the amendments having been agreed to, the bill was reported to the House accordingly; and the amendments being concurred in, were ordered to be engrossed, and the bill be read a third time as amended. The bill was read the third time as amended by unanimous consent, and passed. On motion, the title was amended, so as to read "An act to authorize the President of the United States to borrow a sum not exceeding five millions of dollars." SENATE. cess in the courts of the United States ;" and no amendment having been made thereto, it was reported to the House, and read the third time by unanimous consent, and passed. The bill from the House of Representatives, entitled "An act to establish an additional land office in the Territory of Michigan," was ordered to lie on the table. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that they have passed a bill, entitled "An act to continue in force an act, entitled 'An act regulating the currency within the United States of the gold coins of Great Britain, France, Portugal, and Spain,' passed on the 29th day of April, 1816, so far as the same relates to the crowns and five franc pieces of France;" in which they request the concurrence of the Senate. The bill last mentioned was twice read by unanimous consent, and it was considered by the Senate, as in Committee of the Whole; and the bill having been amended, it was reported to the House accordingly; and, the amendment being concurred in, was ordered to be engrossed, and the bill be read a third time as amended. The bill was then read the third time as amended, and passed. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House have passed a bill, entitled "An act establishing the salaries of the commissioners and agents appointed under the Treaty of Ghent," in which they request the concurrence of the Senate. They disagree to the amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act making appropriations for the military service of the United States for the year 1821." The Senate proceeded to consider their amendments to the bill last mentioned, disagreed to by the House of Representatives; and, The amendments to the bill from the House of Representatives, entitled "An act making appropriations for the military service of the United States for the year 1821," having been reported by the committee correctly engrossed, the bill was Resolved, That they do insist on their said amendfurther amended, and read the third time by unan-ments, except the last paragraph of the fourth imous consent, and passed. On motion the title amendment, from which they recede. was amended by adding thereto the words and for other purposes. The bill from the House of Representatives, entitled "An act establishing the salaries of the comThe bill, entitled "An act for carrying into ex-missioners and agents appointed under the Treaty ecution the treaty between the United States and of Ghent," was twice read by unanimous consent, Spain, concluded at Washington on the 22d day of and considered by the Senate, as in Committee of February, 1819," was referred to the Committee the Whole; and, on Foreign Relations. Mr. BARBOUR, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, reported the last mentioned bill without amendment. The Senate proceeded to consider the said bill, as in Committee of the Whole, and no amendment having been made thereto, it was reported to the House, and read a third time by unanimous consent, and passed. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill, entitled "An act to amend the act, entitled 'An act for the gradual increase of the Navy of the United States;" and no amendment having been made thereto, it was reported to the House, and read the third time by unanimous consent, and passed. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill, entitled "An act to amend the act, entitled 'An act for regulating pro On motion, by Mr. BARBOUR, to strike out after the word "that," in the third line of the first section, the following words: From and after the first day of January, one thou sand eight hundred and twenty-one, each commissioner now appointed, or who may be appointed agreeably to the provisions of the Treaty of Ghent, shall be entitled to receive at the rate of twenty-five hundred dollars per annum ; and each agent appointed, or who may be appointed as aforesaid, shall be entitled to receive at the rate of twenty-five hundred dollars per annum ; which said sums so allowed to said officers respectively, shall be a full compensation for services and all personal expenses incurred while in the performance of the duties of their respective offices: Provided, That the compensation by this section allowed, shall not be continued longer than two years from the said first day of January, 1821. "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That each commissioner and agent shall not be entitled to receive for services performed in their respective offices, before the said first day of January, 1821, any greater sum than the rate of four thousand four hundred and fortyfour dollars per annum, which shall be considered a full compensation for services and all personal expenses incurred while in the discharge of their respective duties. MARCH, 1821. It was determined in the affirmative-yeas 20, nays 12, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Barbour, Eaton, Edwards, Elliott, Holmes of Maine, Holmes of Mississippi, Hunter, Johnson of Kentucky, Johnson of Louisiana, King of New York, Lanman, Macon, Otis, Parrott, Pleasants, Sanford, Stokes, Talbot, Thomas, and Trimble. NAYS-Messrs. Chandler, Dana, Dickerson, Gaillard, Knight, Lowrie, Roberts, Ruggles, Smith, Tay “SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That" It was determined in the negative-yeas 14, lor, Tichenor, and Williams of Tennessee. nays 19, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Barbour, Chandler, Eaton, Elliott, Gaillard, Holmes of Mississippi, Hunter, Johnson of Kentucky, King of New York, Otis, Parrott, Stokes, Trimble, and Walker of Alabama. NAYS-Messrs. Dana, Dickerson, Edwards, Holmes of Maine, Johnson of Louisiana, Knight, Lanman, Lowrie, Macon, Pleasants, Roberts, Sanford, Smith, Southard, Talbot, Taylor, Thomas, Tichenor, and Williams of Tennessee. And no amendment having been made to the said bill it was reported to the House, read the third time by unanimous consent, and passed. On motion, by Mr. BARBOUR, the Senate proceeded to the appointment of a printer or printers on their part, to execute the printing of the Senate for the Seventeenth Congress, pursuant to the resolution of the 3d of March, 1819, on the subject; and, the ballots having been counted, it appeared that Messrs. GALES & SEATON had a majority, and were elected. A message from the House informed the Senate that they disagree to the first and second, and agree to the third of the amendments of the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act to authorize the President of the United States to borrow a sum not exceeding four millions five hundred thousand dollars;" and they insist on their disagreement to the amendments insisted on by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act making appropriations for the military service of the United States for the year 1821." The Senate proceeded to consider the amendments disagreed to by the House of Representatives to the bill, entitled "An act to authorize the President of the United States to borrow a sum not exceeding four millions five hundred thousand dollars;" and on motion, by Mr. BARBOUR, it was resolved, that the Senate do insist on their said amendments, and ask a conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses. Ordered, That Messrs. BARBOUR and KING, of New York, be the managers at the said conference on the part of the Senate. The Senate again considered their amendments to the bill, entitled "An act making appropriations for the military service of the United States for the year 1821," disagreed to by the House of Representatives; and on motion, by Mr. BARBOUR, that the Senate further insist on their said amendments, and ask a conference, a division of the question was called for; and on the question again to insist on the first of the said amendments as follows: Section 1, line 40, strike out two hundred and two thousand," and insert "four hundred thousand," Whereupon, Resolved, That the Senate do further insist on their said amendments, and ask a conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses. Ordered, That Mr. BARBOUR, and Mr. KING, of New York, be the managers at the said conference on the part of the Senate. informed the Senate that they agree to the conferA message from the House of Representatives ence asked by the Senate on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses, on the amendments of the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act making appropriations for the military service of the United States for the year 1821," and have appointed managers at the same on their part; and they have passed a bill, entitled "An act authorizing the settlement of the accounts of the late Le Roy Opie;" in which they request the concurrence of the Senate. The bill last brought up for concurrence was twice read by unanimous consent, and considered by the Senate as in Committee of the Whole; and no amendment having been made, it was reported to the House, read the third time by unanimous consent, and passed. Mr. BARBOUR, from the managers on the part of the Senate at the conference on the amendments of the Senate disagreed to by the House of Representatives to the bill, entitled "An act making appropriations for the military service of the United States for the year 1821," reported that House of Representatives, and conferred freely on they had met the managers on the part of the the subjects committed to them, but that they could come to no agreement thereupon. recede from their said amendments, it was deterOn motion, by Mr. LowRIE, that the Senate mined in the affirmative-yeas 17, nays 16, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Chandler, Dana, Dickerson, Elliott, Gaillard, Hunter, Knight, Lowrie, Macon, Roberts, Ruggles, Smith, Southard, Taylor, Van Dyke, Walker of Alabama, and Walker of Tennessee. NAYS-Messrs. Barbour, Eaton, Edwards, Holmes of Maine, Holmes of Mississippi, Johnson of Kentucky, King of New York, Lanman, Otis, Parrott, Pleasants, Sanford, Stokes, Talbot, Taylor, and Trimble. So it was Resolved, That the Senate do recede from their amendments to the said bill. On motion, by Mr. BARBOUR, Resolved, unanimously, That the thanks of the Senate be presented to JOHN GAILLARD, for the impartial, able, and dignified manner in which he has discharged the duties of President of the Senate during the present session. Whereupon, Supplemental Speeches. Mr. GAILLARD addressed the Senate as follows: GENTLEMEN: In the approbation of my conduct as presiding officer, expressed by this honorable body, by those with whom I have been so long and so happily associated, for many of whom I entertain a warm personal attachment, and for all a sincere respect and esteem, I have received an ample and gratifying reward for the solicitude I have felt to merit their favorable opinion. If various and repeated acts of kindness; if an indulgent and liberal support in the discharge of my official duties, present claims on gratitude, then am I largely and truly your debtor; and the more especially so, when it may be emphatically added, that, whatever of public consideration I may enjoy, if indeed I possess any, has been derived more, much more, from the confidence and favor you have bestowed on me, than from any merit of my own. Under such strong obligations, obligations which will ever be recollected and acknowledged with pride and pleasure, I now tender to you gentlemen, collectively, as well as individually, my grateful thinks, wishing you a safe and happy return to your homes and families, and the enjoyment of health, happiness, and prosperity. On motion, by Mr. HOLMES, of Maine, a committee was appointed on the part of the Senate, jointly with such committee as may be appointed on the part of the House of Representatives, to wait on the President of the United States, and notify him that, unless he may have other communications to make to the two Houses of Congress, they are ready to adjourn. Mr. HOLMES, of Maine, and Mr. HUNTER, were appointed the committee on the part of the Senate. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House, having finished the business before them, are about to adjourn. Mr. HOLMES, of Maine, from the joint committee, reported that they had waited on the President of the United States, who informed them that he had no further communication to make to the two Houses of Congress. Whereupon, the PRESIDENT adjourned the Senate without day. SUPPLEMENTAL SPEECHES. SPEECH OF MR. SMITH, OF S. C. IN THE SENATE, JAN. 17, 1821. On the Report of the Committee on the Petition of Mr. SMITH, of South Carolina, addressed the attempt to follow the gentleman through all the arguments with which he had with so much eloquence entertained the Senate; because very many of them had no sort of application to the question before us. Upon an inquiry by Congress into their powers to look back upon a law which had expired twenty years ago by its own limitation, and to revive it for no other purpose but to deHe thought this subject had been brought before clare that this expired law, at the time of its opthe Senate at a very unseasonable time. He like-eration, was unconstitutional, but little aid could wise felt a reluctance in taking any part in the be derived from being told, as the gentleman had debate, and had intended to content himself with done in a strain of eloquence which no one could giving a silent vote when the resolutions were first reach but himself, that Mathew Lyon was a very submitted; but his honorable friend from Virginia poor man, and to return him his fine of one thou(Mr. BARBOUR) had, in a very unprovoked man-sand dollars would profit him, and not impoverish ner, laid him under the necessity of entering the lists in self-defence. That gentleman had told the Senate the great object of the resolutions was, to declare by a law, to be passed by the present Congress, that the act of Congress which was passed on the 14th day of July, 1798, and which expired by its own limitation on the 3d day of March, 1801, commonly called the sedition law, under which the petitioner, Matthew Lyon, and several other worthy citizens, had been at different times indicted for libels, was an unconstitutional law; and, therefore, all the fines and forfeitures which had been received in consequence of the convictions under those indictments ought to be refunded. In discussing this subject he would not the United States; and that it would tend to restore his injured reputation; that he had been sent fifty miles from the place of his conviction through a populous country for the purpose of exposing him to public view; that he had been confined in a dreary dungeon, during the whole Winter months, without the privilege of fire; and denied at the same time the privilege of pen, ink, and paper, lest he should communicate his privations and his agonies to his friends. These were arguments addressed to our feelings, and not to our judgments. If Matthew Lyon has been oppressed by those who have been intrusted with the execution of this law, in the manner stated by the honorable gentleman, it would excite the utmost |
