lina, Walker of Kentucky, and Williams of North Carolina.

MARCH, 1819.

be paid for the public printing, was thrice read, passed, and returned to the Senate.

The amendment to the bill, entitled "An act in addition to the acts prohibiting the slave trade," was read and concurred in by the House. The bill from the Senate to provide for the due execution of the laws of the Union in the State of Illinois, passed through a Committee of the Whole, (Mr. HUGH NELSON in the chair,) and was subsequently read the third time, passed, and returned to the Senate.

NAYS-Messrs. Adams, Allen, Anderson of Pennsylvania, Barber of Ohio, Bateman, Beecher, Bennett, Boden, Boss, Campbell, Comstock, Crafts, Cushman, Darlington, Drake, Ellicott, Folger, Fuller, Gage, Gilbert, Hale, Hall of Delaware, Hasbrouck, Hendricks, Herkimer, Herrick, Hopkinson, Hostetter, Hubbard, Hunter, Huntington, Irving of New York, Kinsey, Kirtland, Lincoln, Linn, Livermore, W. Maclay, W. P. Maclay, Mason of R. Island, Merrill, Mills, Robert Moore, Samuel Moore, Murray, Jeremiah Nelson, Ogle, Orr, Palmer, Patterson, Pawling, Pitkin, Rice, Rich, Richards, Rogers, Ruggles, Sampson, Schuyler, Sergeant, Seybert, Sherwood, Silsbee, Southard, Tallmadge, Tarr, Taylor, Terry, Tompkins, Upham, Wal-nouncing that they adhere to their amendment, lace, Wendover, Westerlo, Whiteside, Wilkin, Williams of Connecticut, and Wilson of Pennsylvania. So the House refused to agree with the Senate in striking out the clause, and the bill was returned to the Senate.

SENATE BILLS, &c.

The bill from the Senate making appropriations to carry into effect treaties concluded with the several Indian tribes therein mentioned, was read the third time and passed.

The House then resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, on the bill from the Senate making provision for the civilization of the Indian tribes adjoining the frontier settlements.

This bill was opposed by Mr. BARBOUR, on various grounds of expediency, without being at all opposed to the object which the bill had in view, but which it was not calculated to effect, and moved to strike out the first section of the bill. The motion was opposed by Messrs. MILLS, MERCER, TALLMADGE, and HARRISON, and was finally negatived-ayes 25, noes 78; and the bill was then reported to the House, and ordered to a third reading, and was read a third time accordingly, passed, and returned.

The House proceeded to the consideration of the bill from the Senate for the adjustment of claims to land and establishing land offices in the district east of the island of Orleans.

Mr. LOWNDES, for reasons which he offered at large to the House, moved to postpone the bill indefinitely. The motion was earnestly opposed by Messrs. POINDEXTER and BUTLER of Louisiana, and was finally agreed to; but,

On motion of Mr. TERRY, this vote was subsequently reconsidered, and the bill was ordered to a third reading; and was read a third time, passed

and returned.

A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have passed the bill of this House, entitled "An act in addition to the acts prohibiting the slave trade," with an amendment. They have also passed a "resolution directing the manner in which the printing of Congress shall be executed, fixing the prices thereof, and providing for the appointment of a printer or printers," in which amendment and resolution they ask the concurrence of this House.

The joint resolution from the Senate, directing the manner of executing, and fixing the prices to

MISSOURI STATE.

A message was received from the Senate, an

(striking out the restriction of slavery,) to the bill authorizing a State government for the Missouri Territory.

The said message was then taken up; when Mr. TAYLOR moved that this House adhere to its disagreement to said amendment; which motion brought on a renewal of the debate on the subject; in which the restriction was zealously supported by Messrs. TAYLOR, MILLS, and TALLMADGE, and as zealously opposed by Mr. COBB.

Mr. COBB observed that he did not rise for the purpose of detaining the attention of the House for any length of time. He was too sensible of the importance of each moment which yet remained of the session, to obtrude many remarks upon their patience. But, upon a measure involving the important consequences that this did, he felt it to be an imperious duty to express his sentiments, and to enter his most solemn protest against the principle proposed for adoption by the amendment. Were gentlemen aware of what they were about to do? Did they foresee no evil consequences likely to result out of the measure if adopted? Could they suppose that the Southern States would submit with patience to a measure, the effect of which would be to exclude them from all enjoyment of the vast region purchased by the United States beyond the Mississippi, and which belonged equally to them as to the Northern States? He ventured to assure them that they would not. The people of the slaveholding States, as they are called, know their rights, and will insist upon the enjoyment of them. He should not now attempt to go over ground already occupied by others, with much more ability, and attempt to show that, by the treaty with France, the people of that territory were secured in the enjoyment of the property which they held in their slaves. That the proposed amendment was an infraction of this treaty, had been most clearly shown. Nor would he attempt to rescue from slander the character of the people of the Southern States in their conduct towards, and treatment of, their black population. That had also been done, with a degree of force and eloquence to which he could pretend no claim, by the gentleman from Virginia, (Mr. BARBOUR,) and the honorable Speaker. He was, however, clearly of opinion that Congress possessed no power under the Constitution to adopt the principle proposed in the amendment. He called upon the advocates of it

MARCH, 1819.

Proceedings.

H. or R.

to point out, and lay their finger upon, that clause The question was finally taken on adhering to of the Constitution of the United States which the former decision of the House, and decided in gives to this body the right to legislate upon the the affirmative, by yeas and nays. For adhering subject. Could they show in what clause or sec-78, against it 66, as follows: tion this right was expressly given, or from which YEAS-Messrs. Adams, Allen of Massachusetts, it could be inferred? Unless this authority could Anderson of Pennsylvania, Barber of Ohio, Bateman, be shown, Congress would be assuming a power, Beecher, Bennett, Boss, Campbell, Comstock, Crafts, if the amendment prevailed, not delegated to them, Cushman, Darlington, Drake, Ellicott, Folger, Fuller, and most dangerous in its exercise. What is the Gage, Gilbert, Hale, Hall of Delaware, Hasbrouck, end and tendency of the measure proposed? It Hendricks, Herkimer, Herrick, Hitchcock, Hopkinson, is to impose upon the State of Missouri conditions Hostetter, Hubbard, Hunter, Huntington, Irving of not imposed upon any other State. It is to de- New York, Kinsey, Lincoln, Linn, Livermore, W. prive her of one branch of sovereignty not sur- rill, Mills, Robert Moore, Samuel Moore, Moseley, Maclay, W. P. Maclay, Mason of Rhode Island, Merrendered by any other State in the Union, not even those beyond the Ohio; for all of them had Murray, J. Nelson, Ogle, Orr, Palmer, Patterson, Pawlegislated upon this subject: all of them hading, Pitkin, Rice, Rich, Richards, Rogers, Ruggles, decided for themselves whether slavery should Southard, Tallmadge, Tarr, Taylor, Terry, Tompkins, Sampson, Schuyler, Sergeant, Sherwood, Silsbee, be tolerated at the time they framed their several Upham, Wallace, Wendover, Westerlo, Whiteside, constitutions. He would not now discuss the Whitman, Wilkin, Williams of Connecticut, Wilson propriety of admitting slavery. It is not now a of Massachusetts, and Wilson of Pennsylvania. question whether it is politic or impolitic to tolerate slavery in the United States, or in a particular State. It was a discussion into which he would not permit himself to be dragged. Admit, however, its moral impropriety: yet there was a vast difference between moral impropriety and political sovereignty. The people of New York or Pennsylvania may deem it highly immoral and politically improper to permit slavery, but yet, they possess the sovereign right and power to permit it, if they choose. They can to-morrow so alter their constitutions and laws as to admit it, if they were so disposed. It is a branch of Sovereignty which the old thirteen States never surrendered in the adoption of the Federal Constitution. Now the bill proposes that the new State shall be admitted upon an equal footing with the other States of the Union. It is in this way only that she can be admitted, under the Constitution. These words can have no other meaning than that she shall be required to surrender no more of her rights of sovereignty, than the other States, into a union with which she is about to be admitted, have surrendered. But if the proposed amendment is adopted, will not this new State be shorn of one branch of her sovereignty, one right, which the other States may and have exercised, (whether properly or not, is immaterial,) and do now exercise whenever they

think fit?

Mr. C. observed that he did conceive the principle involved in the amendment pregnant with danger. It was one, he repeated, to which he believed the people of the region of country which he represented would not quietly submit. He might perhaps subject himself to ridicule for attempting the display of a spirit of prophecy which he did not possess, or of zeal and enthusiasm for which he was entitled to little credit. But he warned the advocates of this measure against the certain effects which it must produce. Effects destructive of the peace and harmony of the Union. He believed that they were kindling a fire which all the waters of the ocean could not extinguish. It could be extinguished only in blood!

NAYS-Messrs. Abbot, Anderson of Kentucky, Austin, Baldwin, Ball, Barbour of Virginia, Bayley, Bloomfield, Blount, Burwell, Butler of Louisiana, Cobb, Colston, Crawford, Davidson, Desha, Edwards, Ervin of South Carolina, Fisher, Floyd, Garnett, Harrison, Herbert, Hogg, Holmes, Johnson of Virginia, Jones, Lewis, Little, Lowndes, McLane of Delaware, McLean of Illinois, McCoy, Marr, Mason of Massachusetts, Mercer, Middleton, H. Nelson, T. M. Nelson, Newton, Ogden, Owen, Parrott, Pegram, Peter, Pindall, Pleasants, Poindexter, Reed of Georgia, Rhea, Ringgold, Settle, S. Smith, Ballard Smith, Alexander Smyth, Speed, Stewart of North Carolina, Storrs, of South Carolina, Tyler, Walker of Kentucky, and Strother, Terrell, Trimble, Tucker of Virginia, Tucker Williams of North Carolina.

The adherence of the two Houses to their re

spective opinions, precluding any further propositions or compromise on the subject, the bill was

of course lost.

The House then resolved itself into a Commit

tee of the Whole, on motion of Mr. HARRISON, (Mr. COBB in the chair,) on the bill concerning in; when, about sunset, the Committee rose, and invalid pensioners, and made some progress therethe House adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, March 3.

The Committee of Ways and Means, the Committee of Claims, and the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, were discharged from the further consideration of such matters and things as may have been referred to them at the present session, and upon which they have not reported.

On motion of Mr. PLEASANTS, the Commissioners of the Marine and Navy Hospital Funds, were instructed to report to this House, at an early period of the next session of Congress, whether any alterations are necessary in the laws constituting and regulating these funds; and if they shall be of opinion that any changes are necessary, that they report the same, with a plan for establishing such a system as will, in their opinions, best promote the object of the institutions.

The House resolved itself into a Committee

A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have passed bills of this House, of the following titles, to wit: "An act to authorize the building, erecting, and placing light-houses, beacons, and buoys, on places designated in Boston, Buzzard's and Chesapeake Bays, Lakes Ontario and Erie, and for other purposes;" "An act to alter and establish certain post roads" "An act to authorize the President of the United States The House resolved itself into a Committee of to take possession of East and West Florida, and the Whole, on the bill from the Senate, entitled establish a temporary government therein;" with "An act authorizing the purchase of fire engines, amendments to each. The Senate have also and for building houses for the safekeeping of passed a bill entitled "An act to fix the time for the same." The bill was reported without amendthe next meeting of Congress;" in which amendment, and ordered to be read a third time to-day. ments and bill they ask the concurrence of this It was accordingly read the third time, and House. passed.

Illinois;" in which bill they ask the eoncurrence of this House.

Mr. TAYLOR moved the House to come to the following order:

Ordered, That no printing directed by this House to be executed shall be received from the printer, by the officers thereof, after the first day of May next.

The bill from the Senate, entitled "An act to establish a new land office in the State of Illinois," was read the first time; and, on the question, Shall the said bill be read the second time? there appeared-yeas 70, nays 21, as follows:

H. OF R.

directing him to inform this House what sums of
money have been paid to the Attorney General
of the United States for extra services, designat-
ing the service, and the fund from which the
money has been paid; which letter was read, and
ordered to lie on the table.
The letter is as follows:

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, March 3, 1819.
SIR: In obedience to a resolution of the House of

YEAS-Messrs. Abbot, Austin, Baldwin, Ball, Barbour of Virginia, Barber of Ohio, Bayley, Butler of Louisiana, Cobb, Comstock, Davidson, Drake, Ellicott, Fisher, Floyd, Folger, Garnett, Gilbert, Hall of North Carolina, Harrison, Hendricks, Herrick, Holmes, Hubbard, Irving of New York, Johnson of Virginia, Jones, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Livermore, McLean of Illinois, Mason of Massachusetts, Mercer, Middleton, Samuel Moore, Moseley, Jeremiah Nelson, H. Nelson, Newton, Ogle, Owen, Palmer, Parrott, Pegram, Peter, Pitkin, Reed of Maryland, Reed of Georgia, Rhea, Rich, Ringgold, Rogers, Ruggles, Sampson, Settle, Seybert, Silsbee, Speed, Storrs, Stuart of Maryland, Tarr, Tyler, Upham, Walker of North Carolina, Walker of Kentucky, Westerlo, Williams of North Caro-propriation of $6,000" for the discharge of such claims lina, Wilson of Massachusetts, and Wilson of Pennsylvania.

NAYS-Messrs. Adams, Bateman, Bennett, Darlington, Earle, Hopkinson, Little, McLane of Delaware, W. Maclay, W. P. Maclay, Murray, Ogden, Schuyler, Sergeant, S. Smith, Southard, Tallmadge, Terrell, Terry, Whitman, and Williams of Connec

ticut.

Thus it appeared that a quorum was not present.

The House proceeded, by ballot, to the election of a printer, to execute the printing ordered by the House of Representatives during the next Congress, in pursuance of the "Resolution directing the manner in which the printing of Congress shall be executed, fixing the prices thereof, and for the appointment of a printer or printers to Congress." And, upon an examination of the ballots, it appeared that JOSEPH GALES, Jr., and WILLIAM W. SEATON, under the firm of GALES and SEATON, were duly elected.

A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have elected Gales and Seaton printers, on their part, to execute the printing of the Senate during the next Congress, pursuant to the resolution on that subject. They have passed a resolution for the appointment of a joint committee to wait on the President of the United States, and inform him that the two Houses of Congress are about to adjourn, if he has no further communications to make to them, and have appointed a committee on their part.

The said resolution was read and concurred in by the House, and Messrs. PITKIN and HARRISON were appointed of the said committee on their part.

The SPEAKER laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, in answer to the resolution of this House of the 27th ult., 15th CoN. 2d SESS.-46

Representatives of the 27th ultimo, which has been this day received, directing the Secretary of the Treasury to inform the House what sums of money have been paid to the Attorney General of the United States for extra services, designating the services and the fund from which the money has been paid, I have the honor to state that, on the 18th of December, 1818, there was paid to the Attorney General the sum of $950, and, on the 21st of the same month, the further sum of $550. These two sums were paid on the requisition of the Secretary of State for services rendered by the Attorney General in the trials which took place in Baltimore for violations of the provisions of the "act in addition to the act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States, and to repeal the acts therein mentioned," passed on the 20th day of April, 1818. The former of these sums was paid out of the apagainst the United States, not otherwise provided for, as shall have been admitted in due course of settlement at the Treasury;" and the latter out of the appropriaThe whole sum would have been paid out of the fortion for the contingent expenses of foreign intercourse. mer appropriation if the amount unapplied to other objects had been sufficient to discharge it.

Copies of the requisitions from the State Department, upon which the money was paid, are enclosed.

No other payments have been made to the Attorney General from the Treasury for services rendered to the United States, except the sum of $100, in the year 1814, for services rendered in the case of the United States against Brown and others, upon certain protested bills of exchange. This sum was paid out of the fund first above mentioned. The services for which compensation has been made to the Attorney General from the Treasury were not rendered in the Supreme Court of the United States.

I have the honor to be, &c.

WM. H. CRAWFORD. Hon. H. CLAY, Speaker House of Reps.

THANKS TO THE SPEAKER. On motion of Mr. HUGH NELSON, it was Resolved, unanimously, That the thanks of this House be presented to the honorable Henry Clay, for the able, impartial, and dignified manner in which he has presided over its deliberations, and performed the arduous and important duties of the Chair.

Upon which Mr. CLAY rose, and addressed the House as follows:

acknowledgments for the flattering vote you have done I beg you to receive, gentlemen, my most respectful me the honor to pass. Always entertaining for this House the highest consideration, the expression of your approbation conveys a gratification as pure as it is indescribable. I owe it to truth, however, to say, gentlemen, that, but for the almost unlimited confidence with which you have constantly sustained the

Chair, I should have been utterly incompetent to discharge its arduous duties.

MARCH, 1819.

will carry with you my most ardent wishes for your individual welfare and happiness.

If, gentlemen, in the course of our deliberations, Mr. PITKIN, from the joint committee appointmomentary irritation has been at any time felt, or unkind expressions have ever, in the heat of debate, fallen ed to inform the President of the United States from any of us, let these unpleasant incidents be con- that the two Houses of Congress are about to adsigned to oblivion, and let us recollect only the anx-journ, if he had no further communications to make to them, reported that the committee had waited on the President of the United States, and was informed by him that he had no further communications to make.

ious desire which has uniformly animated every one to promote what appeared to him to be for the prosperity of our common country.

One painful circumstance fills me with the deepest regret. It is that, after having co-operated with many of you, with some for years, to advance the public good, we separate to meet perhaps no more. I here bear testimony to the fidelity with which you have all labored to fulfil the high and honorable trust committed to us by the nation. And every one of you

informing the House that the Senate, having comA message was then received from the Senate pleted the legislative business before them, are ready to adjourn; whereupon, the House adjourned sine die.