By Mr. Vance: The memorial of Daniel Homans, of Washington city, in the District of Columbia-heretofore presented January 26, 1843.

By Mr. Andrew Kennedy: The petition of Benjamin Lane, of the State of Indiana-heretofore presented February 6, 1840.

By Mr. Charles J. Ingersoll: A petition of the heirs of Elijah Hall, of Portsmouth, in the State of New Hampshire, for indemnity on account of the capture of a vessel called the "Aurora," owned by their grandfather, by a French privateer.

By Mr. Daniel P. King: The petition of Arthur Sinclair and Joseph Redding, seamen in the service of the United States during the late war with Great Britain-heretofore presented December 12, 1837.

Ordered, That said petitions and inemorials be referred to the Committee of Claims.

By Mr. Hubbell: A petition of citizens of Steuben county, in the State of New York, for the reduction of letter postage: which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

By Mr. Tibbatts: The petition of Captain William Stubblefield, of Mason county, in the State of Kentucky-heretofore presented February 22, 1844.

By Mr. Daniel P. King: The petition of Samuel Goodwin and others, privateersmen-heretofore presented December 17, 1840.

Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.

By Mr. Stetson: A memorial of trustees of the Bank of Potomac, of Alexandria, in the District of Columbia, asking for a charter: which was referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia.

By Mr. Daniel P. King: The petition of William Ellery, of Essex county, in the State of Massachusetts-heretofore presented December 22, 1843;

Also, the petition of citizens of Rockport, in the State of Massachusetts -heretofore presented January 19, 1843.

Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee on Com

merce.

Also, the petition of Abigail Appleton, of Ipswich, in the State of Massachusetts-heretofore presented February 14, 1844;

Also, the petition of citizens of Marblehead, in the State of Massachusetts-heretofore presented April 27, 1844.

Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

By Mr. Cullom: The petition of Arthur R. Frogge, of Fentress county, in the State of Tennessee-heretofore presented January 22, 1844.

By Mr. Slidell: The petition of Auguste Gauban, of the State of Louisiana-heretofore presented January 26, 1837.

By Mr. Daniel P. King: The petition of William B. Adams, of the State of Massachusetts-heretofore presented April 20, 1844.

By Mr. James B. Hunt: A petition of Chester Parrish, of the State of Michigan, for arrears of pension.

Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. Giddings: The petition of Charles Waldron, of Cuyahoga county, in the State of Ohio-heretofore presented January 5, 1843: which was referred to the Committee of Claims.

By Mr. Hubard: The petition of the legal representatives of Tarlton Woodson, deceased-heretofore presented January 9, 1844: which was referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.

By Mr. Parmenter: Resolutions of the city council of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, in relation to an appropriation for the improve. ment of Boston harbor: which were referred to the Committee on Commerce.

By Mr. Fish: A petition of Eliza Trenchard, and thirteen others, widows of officers of the navy, to restore to the navy pension fund the amount lost by depreciation or other causes.

By Mr. Hubard: A memorial of William Vice, of Amherst county, in the State of Virginia, for a pension.

By Mr. James W. Stone: A petition of Sally Cardwell, asking for a pension.

By Mr. John Quincy Adams: The petition of Amasa Dunbar-heretofore presented January 4, 1840.

Ordered, That said petitions and memorial be referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions.

Also, the petition of Juliana Birchmore, of Norfolk county, in the State of Massachusetts-heretofore presented January 6, 1844: which was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. Daniel P. King: A petition of Job Dennen, of Rockport, in the State of Massachusetts, for indemnity for the illegal seizure of his vessel, called the "Director," by the British government: which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

By Mr. Grinnell: The petition of Elisha Luce, of Rochester, in the State of Massachusetts-heretofore presented January 24, 1843;

Also, the petition of Zaccheus Knowles, of Barnstable, in the State of Massachusetts-heretofore presented May 16, 1842;

Also, the petition of Joshua Knowles, of Truro, in the State of Massachusetts-heretofore presented January 24, 1844;

Also, the petition of Barnabas Baker, of Dennis, in the State of Massachusetts-heretofore presented February 23, 1844;

Also, the petition of Levi Eldridge, of Barnstable, in the State of Massachusetts-heretofore presented December 27, 1843.

Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee on Com

merce.

A message from the President of the United States, heretofore received, was read as follows, to wit:

To the Senate

and House of Representatives of the United States:

I communicate to you an extract of a despatch from Mr. Hall to the Secretary of State, which has been received by me since my message of the 3d instant, containing the pleasing information that the indemnity assumed to be paid by the republic of Venezuela, in the case of the brig Morris, has been satisfactorily arranged.

WASHINGTON, December 10, 1844.

JOHN TYLER.

The Speaker laid before the House sundry communications, to wit: I. A letter from the Treasurer of the United States, transmitting, in pursuance of law, copies of accounts with the United States for the 3d and

4th quarters of 1843, and the 1st and 2d quarters of 1844: which letter, &c. were laid upon the table.

II. A letter from the Secretary of State, transmitting a report of the contingent expenses of that department for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1844, in pursuance of the act of 26th August, 1842, and the 2d section of the act making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses of gov. ernment for the year 1836: which letter and report were laid upon the table. III. A letter from the Secretary of War, in answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 10th of January last, calling for a plan or recommendation in relation to the reorganization and discipline of the militia: which letter was referred to the Committee on the Militia.

IV. A letter from the Secretary of State, communicating, in pursuance of the act of the 2d March, 1799, an abstract of all the returns from collectors of customs, of American seamen registered in each port of entry of the United States, during the year ending September 30, 1844: which letter and abstract were laid upon the table.

V. A letter from the Secretary of State, transmitting statements showing the number and designation of passengers who have arrived in each collection district of the United States for the first three quarters of the year 1843, and also for the year ending 30th September, 1844, in pursuance of the act of 2d March, 1819, regulating passenger ships and vessels: which letter and statements were laid upon the table.

VI. A letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting, in print, in obedience to the order of the House of Representatives of the 30th December, 1791, a report of the receipts and expenditures of the United States for the half calendar year ending 30th June, 1843: which letter and report were laid upon the table.

VII. A letter from the Commissioner of Public Buildings, transmitting, in pursuance of a resolution of the House, copies of all contracts made in his office since the 1st day of December last: which letter and contracts were referred to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds.

VIII. A letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting, in answer to a resolution of the House of the 7th June last, a report in relation to the survey of the harbor of Cape Porpoise, in the State of Maine: which letter and report were laid upon the table.

IX. Resolutions of the common council of the city of New York, received by the Clerk of the House of Representatives from the Department of State on the 4th of October last, in relation to the accident on board the steam-frigate Princeton, while on an excursion down the Potomac river, by which Abel P. Upshur, Secretary of State, Thomas W. Gilmer, Secretary of the Navy, and Commodore Kennon and Virgil Maxcy, esq., were instantly killed: which resolutions were laid upon the table.

On motion of Mr. Duncan, the rules were suspended, and the House proceeded to the consideration of the bill (No. 432) to establish a uniform time for holding elections for electors of President and Vice President in all the States of the Union, (reported from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union on Monday last;) the question being on concurring with the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union in their amendment to the said bill.

A motion was made by Mr. Campbell to amend the amendment reported from the said committee, by adding thereto the following proviso:

Provided, That nothing herein contained shall apply to any State where

the electors of President and Vice President are now chosen by its legislature, until such time as such State shall give the election of electors directly to the people.

A motion was made by Mr. Rhett that the said bill and amendments be referred to a select committee.

The question was put, Shall the said bill be referred to a select committee?

The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are

The previous question was moved by Mr. Hale; and the main question was ordered and put, to wit: first, Will the House agree to the amend ment moved by Mr. Campbell?

And decided in the negative,

The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are