after the word Territories, where it first occurs in the second section, these words: "not incompatible with the Constitution and laws of the United States;" so that the civil, military, and judicial powers exercised by the Spanish authorities within the territories of East and West Florida, and which are established by the said bill for the government of said territories until otherwise provided, shall "not be incompatible with the Constitution and laws of the United States."

And the question being taken to agree to this amendment, it was determined in the negative. The bill was then ordered to be engrossed, and read a third time to-day.

The House again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union; and, after some time spent therein, the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Cовв reported that the Committee had again had the state of the Union under consideration, and directed him to report the bill thereto committed on the 26th of February ultimo, to authorize the President of the United States to borrow a sum not exceeding four millions five hundred thousand dollars, without amendment. Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed, and read a third time to-day.

Engrossed bills of the following titles, viz: "An act for carrying into execution the treaty between the United States and Spain, concluded at Washington, the 22d of February, 1819;" and "An act to authorize the President of the United States to borrow a sum not exceeding four million five hundred thousand dollars," were severally read a third time, and passed.

A motion was made by Mr. EDWARDS, of North Carolina, that the several orders of the day which precede the bill from the Senate, entitled "An act to provide for the due execution of the laws of the United States within the State of Missouri," be postponed for the purpose of taking that bill into consideration. This motion was negatived by the House.

Ordered, That the Committee of the whole House, to which is committed the bill 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 the 29th day of April, 1816, so far as the same relates to the crowns and five-franc pieces of France, be discharged from the consideration thereof, and that the said bill be engrossed, and read a third time to-day.

The House proceeded to consider the bill from the Senate, entitled "An act for the relief of General Robert Swartwout." Whereupon, it was ordered that the bill be committed to a committee of the whole House to-day.

The House then resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the said bill; which was reported without amendment, read the third time, and passed.

The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill from the Senate, entitled "An act for the relief of Thomas Shields and others;" which was reported without amendment, read the third time, and passed.

H. OF R.

An engrossed 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 the 29th day of April, 1816, so far as the same relates to the crowns and five-franc pieces of France," was read the third time, and passed.

The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill to establish the salaries of the commissioners and agents appointed under the Treaty of Ghent. The bill was reported with sundry amendments, which were concurred in by the House; and the bill was ordered to be engrossed, and read a third time to-day.

A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have elected Gales & Seaton printers, on their part, in pursuance of the resolution of Congress of the 3d of March, 1819. They have passed the bill, entitled "An act making appropriations for the military service of the United States for the year 1821," with an amendment, in which they ask the concurrence of this House.

The amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill "making appropriations for the military service of the United States for the year 1821," were read, and committed to a Committee of the whole House to-day.

The House then resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the said amendments; and, after some time spent therein, the Committee reported their disagreement to the same. The question was then taken to concur with the Committee of the Whole in their disagreement to the said amendments, and passed in the affirmative.

A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have passed a bill of this House of the following title, viz: "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," with an amendment, in which they ask the concurrence of this House.

Another message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have passed a bill of this House of the following title, viz: "An act to authorize the President of the United States to borrow a sum not exceeding four millions five hundred thousand dollars," with amendments, in which they ask the concurrence of this House.

Án engrossed bill, entitled "An act establishing the salaries of the commissioners and agents appointed under the Treaty of Ghent," was read the third time, and passed.

THANKS TO THE SPEAKER. Mr. CLAY rose, and addressed the House to the following effect:

I rise to submit a motion, which, if it should conciliate the general concurrence of this House, I shall be extremely glad. The present session was commenced under very unpleasant auspices. In the appointment of a presiding officer of the House, the first manifestation was made of that unfortunate division of opinion which has been

the peculiar characteristic of the session. The storm has happily subsided, and we have the great satisfaction to behold the ship of our Confederacy unimpaired by its rage; her hull, her rigging, and her patriotic crew completely fit for a long and glorious voyage, under the star-spangled banner which proudly floats aloft.

MARCH, 1821.

[The following is the substance of Mr. SIMKINS's remarks on the motion to insist on the disagreement of the House to the Senate's amendments of the military appropriation bill.]

I hope, Mr. Speaker, that neither the extraordinary zeal of the member from Kentucky (Mr. HARDIN) or of the member from Maryland (Mr. SMITH) against the amendments to this bill, made by the Senate, will prevent the House giving them that most serious and deliberate consideration to which they are entitled. Sir, it has been somewhat fashionable, in this House, not only to dis

The moral of that agitating drama, of which for more than two years past our country has been the theatre, is that, whilst our Federal Union is admirably fitted to accomplish all the national purposes for which it was intended, there are delicate subjects, exclusively appertaining to the sev-trust a co-ordinate branch of the Government, but eral States, which cannot be touched but by them, without the greatest hazard to the public tranquillity. They resemble those secluded apartments in our respective domicils, which are dedicated to family privacy, into which our nearest and best neighbors should not enter. Let us terminate the session by making that officer the depository of our entire reconciliation, whose election first elicited our divisions, and whose situation has been extremely arduous and difficult. For my part, I have great pleasure in testifying to the assiduity, impartiality, ability, and promptitude, with which he has administered the duties of the Chair since I was able to take my seat. I move the following resolution:

Resolved, That the thanks of this House be given to the honorable JoHN W. TAYLOR, for the assiduity, promptitude, and ability, with which he has administered the duties of the Chair.

Mr. NELSON, of Virginia, (who was temporarily in the Chair,) having stated the question

Mr. RHEA said he hoped this resolution would obtain an unanimous vote. He had been long a member of this House, and he had never seen the duties of the Chair discharged more satisfactorily than by the present Speaker.

Mr. HARDIN said, that it was with great satisfaction he should vote for this resolution, because it met his entire approbation. To be candid, the Speaker had, in the discharge of the duties of the Chair, far outgone his expectations; and he would vote him the thanks proposed with a great deal of pleasure.

The question was then taken on agreeing to the resolution, and decided in the affirmative, one negative voice only being heard.

A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate insist on their amendments to the bill, entitled "An act making appropriations for the support of the military service of the United States for the year 1821," except the latter part of the last of the said amendments, from which latter they recede.

MILITARY APPROPRIATIONS.

The House proceeded to consider the message from the Senate informing this House that they insist on certain of their amendments to the bill, entitled "An act making appropriations for the military service of the United States for the year 1821." Whereupon, it was, on motion of Mr. HARDIN, resolved that this House doth insist on their disagreement to the amendments aforesaid.

to reject their acts, with a haste and an impatience bordering on contempt. I do not think that a body so grave and dignified has deserved such treatment. On the contrary, it must be admitted, by all impartial men, that for two years past its wisdom and firmness have rescued this nation from the most disastrous measures. Dislike as we may the opposition of this branch of our Legislature to certain favorite doctrines and favorite measures impetuously urged upon us by the majority of this House, yet we shall be compelled to respect it, as a barrier to great evils, and as a body to which the people look with anxious and increasing solicitude.

The member from Kentucky (Mr. HARDIN) says, that every thing wears the appearance of bustle and activity of preparation, as if we were about to be involved in war. Nothing, sir, can be further from the fact. The Senate amend our bill

by adding a comparatively small sum, say about $200,000, for carrying on the most indispensable fortifications of our country, placed with the most perfect skill, and after accurate and skilful surveys on our exposed points; a sum altogether but little more than one half of what has been appropriated for a series of years; and the gentleman calls this a great preparation for war. Sir, so far from preparing for those perilous exigencies which must arise, we are retrograding into a state of apathy most alarming to every American who can extend his views beyond the present moment. We assume to ourselves a wisdom which brands with the imputation of folly and extravagance every session of Congress since the late war. Eight hundred thousand dollars annually has been most deliberately resolved upon as the sum necessary for these important works for several years, and now you reduce it down to $300,000, without a solitary reason to justify you. I say without a shadow of reason; for who will say that these works are less important with an exhausted Treasury than they were with a full one? You last year appropriated $800,000, and allow the Secretary of War to make contracts for this year, in some degree, at least, proportioned to a similar appropriation. After he has made the contracts, and pledged the faith of the nation, you desert him, by offering a small sum which will not cover them, and but little more than preserve the works and materials. You break the faith of the nation, ruin public contractors, and send them petitioning at your heels, for years, for damages sustained by your conduct; and which you will be compelled in the end to

MARCH, 1821.

Closing Business.

H. OF R.

pay! It is, however, matter of joy that our essential preparations may be preserved for many years to come, and perfected without the imposition of a single additional tax of any kind, notwithstanding the eternal noise made about taxes.

Sir, a single hour will put an end to my existence as a member of this body; but I cannot take my leave without expressing my most unfeigned sorrow at the ruinous fluctuating policy now pursued by the representatives of the people. I hope (and the hope is indeed faint) that we shall agree to the amendments made by the Senate.

pay. This is not all. You so prostrate the United States' credit that nobody will work for you without double price. Besides this, you impede, and finally will endanger, the important defences of the country. Fortifications placed at proper points, and well built, have been determined, by the universal consent of all ages and nations, to be of infinite moment; and yet it is found out by the talent and wisdom of this Congress, and of this Congress alone, that they are of little importance, and have been pronounced by some gentlemen to be absolutely worthless! This Congress may be the wisest of any, but its policy is diametrically opposed to the policy of every session since the war. Indeed, we have heard some gentlemen The House proceeded to consider the amendpinning their whole faith on the Committee of ments proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled Ways and Means, and have given a decided pref- "An act to authorize the President of the United erence to the sweeping judgment of this commit-States to borrow a sum not exceeding four miltee, not a member of which will pretend even to lions five hundred thousand dollars;" and the have become scientifically acquainted with the sub- same being read twice, were disagreed to. ject of engineering, against the opinions of all your officers, and particularly against some of the first engineers that ever adorned the scientific annals of any country on earth!

CLOSING BUSINESS.

That portion of the said bill to which the third amendment proposed by the Senate applies, reads thus, viz: "reimbursable at the will of the Government, and at the will of the creditor, at any time after the first day of January, 1835."

The third amendment of the Senate proposes to strike out the words, and at the will of the creditor. Mr. BARBOUR moved to amend the said third amendment so as to make the aforesaid clause in the bill read thus: "reimbursable at the will of the Government at any time before the first day of January, 1835; and at the will either of the Government or the creditor, at any time after that period."

And the question being taken to agree to this amendment, it was determined in the negative; and the said amendment was then concurred in by the House.

The amendment proposed by the Senate to the 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,” was read and concurred in by the House.

The chairman of that committee has boldly taken upon himself the responsibility of condemning the fort on Dauphin Island as utterly useless. I will not detain the House further on this point than to say, that it has been demonstrated by the gentlemen from Louisiana and Kentucky (Messrs. BUTLER and JOHNSON) that this fort will effectually command the waters of a spacious and deep harbor, which a naval enemy would instantly possess, and, with it, seize Dauphin Island, which would give them a secure and perfect foot-hold, from which they would not only destroy our trade up the bay, but annoy the whole adjacent country, stop the communication to New Orleans by the lake, and materially injure Pensacola. This is no dream; the facts are palpable to every man who has actually examined the country, and yet such men are flatly contradicted by members here, not distinguished for military science, and who have never for a moment placed their eyes on the spot! The gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. HARDIN) says the best means of defence is to make the people easy and happy, by lightening their burdens. Sir, we have never imposed any burdens; and, from the temper of this House, can it be supposed that any ever will be imposed? In truth, it seems that every institution would be prostrated, destroyed, and sunk, sooner than tax the people; although they would never hesitate to pay taxes indispen-eration. sable to the due and vigorous and proper support of the Government. Taxes present no such frightful and hideous monster to the people as they are represented here. They are, to be sure, the constant, never ceasing bugbear presented to our view, whenever an army, navy, or fortifications, are to be preserved and perfected. It seems to be no crime to make the people pay taxes indirectly, by way of impost; whilst it is horrible, and unpardonable, past endurance, to ask these same people to pay taxes directly levied upon them. It is laudable, if you can cheat them into the payment, but past forgiveness, if you openly tell them to

A motion was made by Mr. CANNON, that the several orders of the day which precede the bill from the Senate, entitled "An act for the relief of the officers and volunteers engaged in the late campaign against the Seminole Indians" be postponed, for the purpose of taking that bill into consid

And the question being taken thereon, it was determined in the negative.

Mr. SERGEANT moved that the several orders of the day which precede the bill authorizing Benjamin H. Rand to import a certain piece of plate free of duty, be postponed, for the purpose of taking that bill into consideration. This motion was rejected by the House.

Mr. NELSON, of Virginia, moved that the several orders of the day, which precede the bill to abolish imprisonment for debt, be postponed, for the purpose of taking the bill into consideration. This motion was rejected by the House.

Closing Business.

A Message was received from the PRESIDENT | Committee of the Whole, to which is committed OF THE UNITED STATES, as follows:

The Speaker's Address-Adjournment.

titled "An act for the relief of Ebenezer Stevens, to the bill, entitled "An act making appropriations and Austin L. Sands, legal representatives of Rich- for the military service of the United States for ardson Sands, deceased, and others," be postponed, the year 1821." for the purpose of taking that bill into consideration. This motion was again rejected by the House.

The resolution was read, and concurred in by the House; and Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, and Mr. BEECHER moved that the bill from the Sen- Mr. CUSHMAN, were appointed of the said comate, entitled "An act supplemental to an act, enti-mittee, on the part of this House. tled 'An act to authorize the appointment of commissioners to lay out the road therein mentioned," be now read the second time; and the question being taken thereon, it was determined in the negative.