the nature of the claim, and by whom granted, with a schedule of those made by the same officers, and for the same objects; of those confirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States; and whether the lands covered by those titles are reserved from survey, or sufficiently designated to be laid down on the township plats;" which letter and accompanying documents were ordered to lie on the table.

VIII. A letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting a report from the Commissioner of the General Land Office, with sundry documents prepared in obedience to the call of the House of the 14th January, 1835, for a copy of the decision of the commissioners on private land claims at Michilimackinac, Green Bay, and Prairie du Chien, in the Territory of Michigan, with connected plats, and copies of the field notes, of all such claims as have been surveyed at either of those places; which letter and report were referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims.

IX. A letter from the First Comptroller of the Treasury, transmitting sundry statements, viz:

A list of balances on the books of the Register of the Treasury, which have remained unsettled, or appear to have been due three years prior to the 30th September, 1835.

An abstract of balances remaining on the books of the Fourth Auditor of the Treasury for more than three years prior to the 30th of September, 1835.

Which letter and statements were ordered to lie on the table.

X. A letter from the First Comptroller of the Treasury, transmitting sundry statements prepared by the Third Auditor of the Treasury, viz: First-Statement of such officers as have not rendered their accounts within the year, or have balances unaccounted for, advanced one year prior to September 30, 1835.

Second-Statement of the accounts in the office of the Third Auditor, which have remained unsettled, or on which balances appear to have been due more than three years prior to September 30, 1835.

Third-An abstract of moneys advanced prior to March 3, 1809, on the books of the late accountant of the War Department, and which remained to be accounted for on the books of the Third Auditor on the 30th September, 1835.

Which letter and statements were laid on the table.

XI. A report from the Secretary of the Treasury in relation to the construction of custom-houses at Newburyport, New London, New Bedford, Middletown, New York, Boston, and a public store or warehouse at Baltimore; and the building an out-house to be attached to the custom-house at New Orleans. Also, in relation to the road through the public grounds to the military hospital at Chelsea, in Massachusetts; which report was ordered to lie on the table.

XII. The annual statement of expenditures on account of contingencies for the House of Representatives of the United States, for the year ending November 30, 1835, and of the names of the clerks and other persons employed in the service of said House-prepared by the clerk in obedience to the joint resolution of March 1, 1823; which statement and accompanying papers were ordered to lie on the table.

The Speaker also submitted to the House the following communication, viz:

WASHINGTON, December 15, 1835. SIR: Inclosed is a certificate of my election as Representative of the State of Michigan in the Congress of the United States. It is my desire that the same may be presented to the consideration of the body over which you have the honor to preside.

Hon. JAMES K. POLK,

I am, with great respect,
Your obedient servant,
ISAAC E. CRARY.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The communication and accompanying certificate having been read, A motion was made by Mr. Beardsley, that the courtesy of the House be extended to Mr. Crary; and that the Speaker be directed to assign him a seat within the House, but not as a member thereof; and that the letter of Mr. Crary, and the certificate which accompanied it, be printed.

A motion was made by Mr. Mercer, that the motion made by Mr. Beardsley do lie on the table.

And pending the question on this latter motion,

The House adjourned until to-morrow, 12 o'clock meridian.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1835.

The House proceeded to the consideration of the resolution moved by Mr. Bockee on the 15th instant, and pending at the adjournment that day: when

Mr. Bockee modified his resolution to read as follows:

Resolved, That Overton Carr be appointed principal doorkeeper to this House.

And the question was put, that the House do agree to the said resolution as modified:

And passed in the affirmative.

On motion of Mr. Bockee, it was

Resolved, That this House will now proceed to the election of an assistant doorkeeper, by ballot.

The House then proceeded, accordingly, to the election of an assistant doorkeeper, and, upon an examination of the first ballot, it appeared that John W. Hunter had received a majority of the whole number of votes given in, and was duly elected.

Overton Carr, principal doorkeeper, then appeared, and the oath of office, as prescribed in the Rules of the House, was administered to him by the Speaker.

The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; and, after some time spent therein, the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. John Quincy Adams reported that the committee had, according to order, had the state of the Union under consideration, and come to sundry resolutions thereon, which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same were read and concurred in by the House, and are as follow:

1. Resolved, That so much of the President's message as relates to the political relations of the United States with foreign nations, including "the ascertainment of the claims to be paid, and the apportionment of the funds,

under the convention made with Spain," be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

2. Resolved, That so much of said message as relates to the commerce of the United States with foreign nations and their dependencies, be referred to the Committee on Commerce.

3. Resolved, That so much of said message as relates to the finances, and every thing connected therewith the custody of the public moneys, and every thing connected therewith; the offices of Commissioners of Loans and of the Sinking Fund, and every thing connected with the operations of those offices; and the Bank of the United States, including the books and stock of the United States in that institution, be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

4. Resolved, That so much of said message as relates to the public lands, to the condition of the General Land Office, and to improvements in the land system, be referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

5. Resolved, That so much of said message as relates to the report of the Secretary of War, and the public interest entrusted to the War Department, except so much thereof as relates to Indian affairs, be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

6. Resolved, That so much of said message as relates to the militia o the United States, be referred to the Committee on the Militia.

7. Resolved, That so much of said message as relates to the Indian tribes, and every thing connected therewith, be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

8. Resolved, That so much of said message as relates to the report of the Secretary of the Navy, and the public interest entrusted to the Navy Department, be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

9. Resolved, That so much of said message as relates to the report of the Postmaster General, the condition and operations of the Post Office Department, and every thing connected therewith, be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

10. Resolved, That so much of said message as relates to "amending that part of the constitution which provides for the election of the President and Vice President of the United States," be referred to a Select Committee.

11. Resolved, That so much of said message as relates "to the present condition of the District of Columbia," and which recommends a revision of its laws, and the extension of political rights to its citizens, be referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia.

12. Resolved, That so much of said message as relates "to the defects which exist in the judicial system of the United States," and which recommends an extension of that system to all the States, be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Ordered, That Mr. Dromgoole, Mr. Vanderpoel, Mr. Luke Lea, Mr. May, Mr. Briggs, Mr. Ripley, Mr. Towns, Mr. Waddy Thompson, and Mr. Miller, be the select committee provided for in the 10th of the foregoing resolutions, on so much of the message as relates to amending the constitution of the United States.

Mr. Thomson, of Ohio, moved the following resolution, which was read and agreed to by the House, viz:

Resolved, That two chaplains, of different denominations, be elected by Congress, one by each House, to serve during the present session, who shall interchange weekly.

Ordered, That the clerk request the concurrence of the Senate therein. The resolution submitted by Mr. John Quincy Adams yesterday, and laid on the table, calling for a list of the names of certain pensioners of the United States, was read, considered, and agreed to by the House.

The House proceeded to the consideration of the resolution submitted by Mr. Richard M. Johnson, on the 10th instant, directing certain offices of the War Department to be supplied with documents printed by order of the House: when it was.

On motion of Mr. Mason, of Virginia,

Ordered, That the said resolution be committed to the Committee on Military Affairs, with instructions to inquire and report to this House, whether, in the transaction of the public business, the public interest will be promoted by the adoption of the said resolution, in whole or in part.

A motion was made by Mr. Ward, that when the House shall adjourn to-day, it will adjourn to meet again on Monday next, the 21st instant; which motion was, on motion of Mr. Boon, ordered to lie on the table.

On motion of Mr. Cambreleng,

Ordered. That the estimates of appropriations necessary for the service of the year 1836, communicated to this House by the Secretary of the Treasury, on the 10th instant, together with the annual report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the state of the finances, be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

The Speaker communicated sundry documents in relation to the contested election of James Graham, of North Carolina, which documents were referred to the Committee of Elections.

On motion of Mr. Ashley,

Ordered, That the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, made to this House on the 10th instant, in relation to the construction of levees on the banks of the Mississippi, Red, Arkansas, and Missouri rivers, be referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

And then the House adjourned until to-morrow, 12 o'clock meridian.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1835.

Another member, viz. from the State of Pennsylvania, Thomas M. T. McKennan, appeared, was sworn to support the constitution of the United States, and took his seat.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Lowrie, their Secretary.

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have concurred in the resolution from the House of Representatives for the appointment of chaplains to Congress for the present session; and then he withdrew.

Mr. Evans presented a petition of Thomas Frazer, of the State of Maine, praying that his name may be placed on the invalid pension list of the United States.

Mr. Evans presented a petition of Joseph Pinley, of the State of Maine, praying that his name may be placed on the invalid pension list of the United States; which petitions were referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Mr. Evans presented a petition of Timothy Jordan, of the State of Maine, praying to be paid for his services as a soldier in the army of the revolution, for the period of one year and three months; which petition was referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.

On motion of Mr. Parks,

Ordered, That the petition of citizens of the State of Maine, for the removal of the courts of the United States from Wiscasset to Bangor, presented December 15, 1834, be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. On motion of Mr. Phillips,

Ordered, That the petition of Peter Dixey, presented January 13, 1834, be referred to the Committee of Claims.

On motion of Mr. Phillips,

Ordered, That the petition of George Gott and Jonathan Tarr, presented January 27, 1834, be referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. Grennell presented a petition of Moses Pierce, of the county of Franklin, in the State of Massachusetts, praying that his name may be placed on the list of invalid pensioners of the United States; which petition was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

On motion of Mr. William Jackson, of Massachusetts,

Ordered, That the petition of Parsons Smith, presented December 31, 1833, be referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

On motion of Mr. Vinton,

Ordered, That when the House shall adjourn to-day, it will adjourn to meet again on Monday next, the 21st instant.

Mr. Briggs presented a petition of inhabitants of Cummington, in the State of Massachusetts, praying Congress to provide for the immediate abolition of slavery and the slave trade within the District of Columbia; which petition was referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia.

Mr. Jackson, of Massachusetts, presented a petition of inhabitants of Holliston, in the State of Massachusetts, praying Congress to provide for the immediate abolition of slavery and the slave trade within the District of Columbia. The said petition was read, and Mr. Jackson moved that said petition be referred to a select committee.

A motion was made by Mr. Hammond, that the said petition be rejected. Mr. Garland, of Virginia, moved that it do lie on the table.

The Speaker decided, that under the 45th rule of the House, which provides that petitions shall not be debated or decided on the day of their being first read, unless where the House shall direct otherwise, but shall lie on the table to be taken up in the order they were read," that said petition, and the motions made thereon, do lie over for consideration until the next day of the session of the House. The Speaker also decided, that when the subject should come up for consideration, the motion that the petition do lie on the table, would take precedence of the motion that the petition be rejected.

From these decisions Mr. Williams, of North Carolina, took an appeal to the House, but subseqently' withdrew the same; when

Mr. Garland withdrew his motion that the said petition do lie on the table.

A motion was then made by Mr. Beardsley, that the House direct, under the 45th rule aforesaid, that the said petition, and the motion pending in relation thereto, be now considered.

It passed in the affirmative.

And after debate on the said memorial and motion to reject,

A motion was made by Mr. Beardsley, that the said memorial do lie on the table; when

A motion was made by Mr. Thomas, that the House do reconsider the