The bill was then read the third time and passed. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act relative to the election of a President and Vice President of the United States, and declaring the officer who shall act as President, in case of vacancies in the offices both of President and Vice President ;" and, after some time spent therein, the bill was reported without amend ment. Ordered, That the said bill be now read the third time. The bill was accordingly read the third time and passed. A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have passed the bill, entitled "An act for the relief of the heirs of John Habersham," with an amendment; to which they desire the concurrence of this House; and the bill, entitled "An act in addition to an act, entitled 'An act to establish an uniform rule of naturalization, and to repeal the acts heretofore passed on that subject," with an amendment; to which they desire the concurrence of this House. The Senate have also passed the bill, entitled "An act authorizing the payment of two thousand eight hundred dollars to Philip Sloan;" to which they desire the concurrence of this House. An engrossed bill supplementary to the act, entitled "An act to prescribe the mode in which the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings, in each State, shall be authenticated, so as to take effect in every other State," was read the third time and passed. A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have passed the bill, entitled "An act making provision for the disposal of the public lands in the Indiana Territory, and for other purposes," with several amendments; to which they desire the concurrence of this House. The House proceeded to consider the amendments of the Senate to the bill last mentioned. Whereupon, Ordered, That the said amendments, together with the bill, be committed to Mr. NICHOLSON, Mr. DWIGHT, and Mr. MORROW. The bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act authorizing the payment of two thousand eight hundred dollars to Philip Sloan," was read twice and committed to a Committee of the Whole to morrow. The House proceeded to consider the amend ment proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act in addition to an act, entitled "An act to establish an uniform rule of naturalization, and to repeal the acts heretofore passed on that subject:" Whereupon, Resolved, That this House doth agree to the said amendment. The House proceeded to consider the amendment proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act for the relief of the heirs of John Habersham:" Whereupon, MARCH, 1804. NEXT MEETING OF CONGRESS. The House took up the bill received from the Senate, altering the time of the next session of Congress to the first Monday of November. On the question whether the same shall pass? Messrs. LEIB, SLOAN, BEDINGER, and J. CLAY supported, and Messrs. THATCHER, LYON, HUGER, and ELMER opposed it, when the question was taken by yeas and nays, and the bill passed-yeas 54, nays 43, as follows: YEAS-Willis Alston, jr., Isaac Anderson, David Bard, George Michael Bedinger, William Blackledge, Adam Boyd, Robert Brown, Thomas Claiborne, Joseph Clay, John Clopton, Frederick Conrad, Jacob Crowninshield, Manasseh Cutler, Richard Cutts. John Dawson, John B. Earle, James Elliot, William Findley, James Gillespie, Samuel Hammond, Josiah Hasbrouck, David Holmes, Walter Jones, Nehemiah Knight, Michael Leib, Andrew McCord, William McCreery, Samuel L. MitNew, Joseph H. Nicholson, Beriah Palmer, John Patchill, Nicholas R. Moore, Thomas Moore, Anthony terson, John Randolph, Thomas M. Randolph, John Rea of Pennsylvania, John Rhea of Tennessee, Erastus Root, Thomas Sammons, Thomas Sandford, Tompson J. Skinner, James Sloan, John Smilie, John Smith of Virginia, Henry Southard, Joseph Stanton, John Stewart, Samuel Taggart, David Thomas, Philip R. Thompson, Isaac Van Horne, Peleg Wadsworth, and Joseph Winston. NAYS-John Archer, Simeon Baldwin, Silas Betton, Walter Bowie, John Campbell, Martin Chittenden, Clifton Claggett, Matthew Clay, John Davenport, Thomas Dwight, Ebenezer Elmer, John Fowler, Thos. Griffin, Gaylord Griswold, Roger Griswold, Seth Hastings, Joseph Heister, William Hoge, David Hough, Benjamin Huger, William Kennedy, Joseph Lewis, jr., wether, Nahum Mitchell, Andrew Moore, Jeremiah Henry W. Livingston, Matthew Lyon, David MeriMorrow, Gideon Olin, Thomas Plater, Jacob Richards, Ebenezer Seaver, John Cotton Smith, Richard Stanford, William Stedman, James Stephenson, Samuel Tenney, Samuel Thatcher, Killian K. Van Rensselaer, Joseph B. Varnum, Matthew Walton, Marmaduke Williams, and Richard Winn. REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS. Mr. NICHOLSON offered a resolution declaratory of the opinion of Congress, that the first section wounds received during the Revolutionary war, of the act providing for persons disabled by known &c., should be so construed, as to include all perfrom known wounds, resigned their commissions. sons, who, in consequence of disability arising Mr. SMILIE opposed the motion, under the idea that one act of Congress could only be explained by another act of the same kind. Mr. NICHOLSON said this was as much a Legislative act as though it began with the words, "be it enacted." Mr. J. C. SMITH suggested the propriety of accommodating the style to the phraseology of the laws. He was of opinion that one solemn act of legislation could only be superseded by an act equally sacred. Mr. CAMPBELL expressed the same opinion. On motion of Mr. NICHOLSON the resolution Resolved, That this House doth agree to the was referred to a committee empowered to report said amendment. by bill. Mr. J. C. SMITH, from the committee this day appointed, presented, according to order, a bill supplementary to an act, entitled "An act to make provision for persons that have been disabled by known wounds received in the actual service of the United States during the Revolutionary war;" which was read twice and ordered to be engrossed and read the third time to-day. LOUISIANA BILL. Mr. NICHOLSON, from the managers appointed to confer with the managers of the Senate on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the Louisiana bill, made a report recommending that the House should recede from their amendment, proposing a substitute for the fourth section of the bill as it came from the Senate. The substitute provides for the election of a Legislative Council by the people of Louisiana. Mr. N. observed that the managers on the part of the Senate, had represented that the election of a Legislative Council by the people of Louisiana would be attended with inconveniences which he, for one. had never perceived before. It was stated by one of the managers who had been in Louisiana, and by another well acquainted with the situation of the country, that the settlements there were usually in parishes in which the inhabitants were generally of one description. Some of those parishes were entirely composed of Spaniards, some of French, some of Germans, and some of Creoles. If each of them were to send a member, the Legislative body would be composed of persons of different languages. The representatives of no two parishes would perhaps speak the same language. This, Mr. N. said, was the principal reason which induced the managers to recommend that the House should recede. There were other reasons, of a very powerful nature, which it was not necessary for him to state. Mr. SMILIE declared himself in favor of receding, as he wished the bill passed, under the conviction that without the proposed new section, it would provide for the people of Louisiana a better government than they at present enjoyed. Mr. ALSTON observed, that in consequence of a limitation in the bill, it would expire in one year, which would be antecedent to the time when the contemplated Legislative Council, as eligible by the people, would be organized. He was therefore in favor of receding. The question was then taken by yeas and nays on receding from the first amendment, and carried in the affirmative-yeas 51, nays 45, as follows: YEAS-Willis Alston, jun., Isaac Anderson, Simeon Baldwin, David Bard, Walter Bowie, Adam Boyd, Robert Brown, Joseph Bryan, John Campbell, Thomas Claiborne, Joseph Clay, Jacob Crowninshield, John B. Earle, Peter Early, William Findley, John Fowler, Jas. Gillespie, Thomas Griffin, Samuel Hammond, Josiah Hasbrouck, James Holland, David Holmes, Benj. Huger, Walter Jones, Nehemiah Knight, Andrew McCord, William McCreery, Samuel L. Mitchill, Andrew Moore, Nicholas R. Moore, Thomas Moore, Thomas Newton, jr., Joseph H. Nicholson, John Randolph, John Rea of Pennsylvania, John Rhea of Tennessee, Jacob Richards, Thos. Sammons, Thomas Sandford, John Smilie, John Smith H. OF R. of Virginia, Henry Southard, Joseph Stanton, John NAYS-John Archer, George Michael Bedinger, Silas Williams. The managers further recommended that the House should insist on their amendment declaring null all grants subsequent to the Treaty, of St. Ildefonso, with an amendment saving bona fide grants to a certain extent, made to actual settlers. Mr. R. GRISWOLD said he should vote against the amendment, with the view of afterwards voting against insisting on the original amendment. Mr. NICHOLSON and Mr. SMILIE said a few words in favor of agreeing to the amendment, when the question was taken on concurring with the report of the managers, and carried—yeas 54. A message was received from the Senate, stating their agreement to the report of the committee of conference on the Louisiana bill, which was consequently passed. [It may not be unsatisfactory here to state that the bill, as finally passed, is limited in duration to one year from the first day of October next, (when it is to take effect) and thence to the end of the next session of Congress. It directs the appointment by the President of a Governor, to hold his office for four years; the appointment annually of a Legislative Council, composed of inhabitants of Louisiana, and the appointment of judges. It will be perceived that the principle of the Senate, withholding for the present the right of suffrage from the people of Louisiana, prevailed, subject, however, to the limitation of time introduced in the bill by the House of Representatives.] EXTINGUISHMENT OF DEBTS. ther provision for extinguishing debts due by the Mr. CLAIBORNE called up the bill making furUnited States. of the bill, but despaired, from the late period of Mr. LEIB said he was friendly to the principle the session, of its passage; he therefore moved its postponement to the first Monday of December. Mr. ELMER expressed a coincidence of sentiment with Mr. LEIB. Mr. CLAIBORNE said, it was well known to the House that he was friendly to the bill; he was, however, sensible it was too late to act upon it during the present session. His only wish there fore, at this time, was to put the bill in such a respectful situation as would recommend it to the early attention of Congress at their next session. He therefore acquiesced in the postponement. The motion of postponement was then carried without a division. PUNISHMENT OF CRIMES. The House went into a Committee of the Whole on the bill from the Senate, to punish certain crimes against the United States. The first section of the bill was read. It provides for the punishing with death, any person who shall wilfully burn, sink, or destroy any vessel. Mr. LEIB moved to strike out "with death," and to insert, "by imprisonment not exceeding fourteen years." This amendment gave rise to a debate of some interest and length, on the comparative advantages of sanguinary and mild punishments, and on the relative magnitude of the offence, the punishment of which was under consideration. Messrs. LEIB, SMILIE, J. CLAY, ELMER, and STANTON Supported, and Messrs. NICHOLSON, HOLLAND, GRISWOLD, SOUTHARD, THATCHER, and MACON opposed the amendment, which, on the question being taken, was negatived-yeas 32. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. Mr. DAWSON moved that the House should resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole on the resolutions offered by him, for the recession of the District of Columbia. Mr. HUGER said this point had been fully and ably investigated the last session. He did not expect, after the decision then made, that the House would have been again called upon to discuss it. He believed the mind of every member was made up respecting it. He hoped, therefore, the House would not agree to go into Committee. Mr. J. LEWIS said he should vote against the House resolving itself into a Committee of the Whole, and should that motion be negatived, he would move to discharge the Committee of the Whole from all further consideration of the resolutions. The question was taken on going into Committee, and lost-Yeas 20. Mr. J. LEWIS then moved to discharge the Committee. This motion was carried without debate yeas 53, embracing a great majority of the members present. INDIANA TERRITORY. The House went into Committee of the Whole on the bill making an addition to the salaries of the Governor, Judges, and Secretary, of the Indiana Territory. The bill adds to the salary of the Governor, $500; to that of the Judges, $400; and to that of the Secretary, $375, for two years from the first of October next. Mr. EARLY spoke in favor of the bill, on the ground that, by the annexation of Louisiana to the Indiana Territory, the duties of these officers were greatly increased. Mr. LYON opposed the bill, and moved to amend MARCH, 1804. it by striking out the additional compensation allowed to the Governor. Messrs. LEIB and CLAY advocated the amendment, when the question was taken on Mr. LYON'S motion, and carried-yeas 51. Mr. MACON moved to strike out, "to the Judges, each $400." He observed that it was an incorrect procedure to give Judges a temporary salary. then agreed to-yeas 47. Mr. MORROW opposed the motion, which was The Committee then rose and reported progress, when leave was refused to them to sit again, and the bill was then postponed to the first Monday of December. SATURDAY, March 24. that the Senate have passed the bill, entitled “An A message from the Senate informed the House act to amend the act, entitled 'An act concerning with several amendments; to which they desire the registering and recording of ships and vessels, the concurrence of this House. Mr. NICHOLSON, from the committee to whom bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act for the was committed, on the twenty-first instant, the relief of William A. Barron," made a report thereon; which was read and considered: Whereupon, Resolved, That the further consideration of the said bill be postponed until the first Monday in November next. An engrossed bill supplementary to an act, entitled "An act to make provision for persons that have been disabled by known wounds received in the actual service of the United States during the Revolutionary war," was read the third time and passed. Mr. NICHOLSON, from the committee to whom were referred, on the twenty-third instant, the amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act making provision for the disposal of the public lands in the Indiana Territory, and for other purposes," made a report thereon; which was read and considered: Whereupon, Resolved, That this House doth agree to all the amendments of the Senate to the said bill, except the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth of the said amendments, which were, on the question severally put thereupon, disagreed to by the House. Mr. VARNUM, from the committee appointed on the part of this House to attend a conference with the Senate on the subject-matter of the sixteenth amendment, depending between the two Houses, to the bill, entitled "An act further to alter and establish certain post roads, and for other purposes," made a report thereon; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. The House proceeded to consider the amendments of the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act to amend the act, entitled 'An act concerning the registering and recording of ships and vessels:" Whereupon, Resolved, That this House doth agree to the said amendments. House to resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes, and to preserve peace on the frontiers, be postponed until the first Monday in November next. The House proceeded to consider a motion of the seventeenth instant, relative to "the expediency of providing by law for exhibiting and registering all evidences of title and claims for land within the territories ceded by the French Republic to the United States, by the treaty of the thirtieth of April, 1803," which lay on the table: Whereupon, Ordered, That the further consideration of the said motion be postponed until the first Monday in November next. H. OF R. Whole on the bill from the Senate, authorizing the payment of $2,800 to Philip Sloan. The Committee rose and reported their agreement to the bill; which the House ordered to a third reading, and passed-yeas 66. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill, sent from the Senate, entitled "An act to make further appropriations for the purpose of extinguishing the Indian claims;" and, after some time spent therein, the bill was reported without amendment. The said bill was then read the third time and passed. and for other purposes," made a report thereon; which was read, and considered: Whereupon, Resolved, That this House doth insist on their disagreement to the said twenty-fifth amendment to the bill. Mr. NICHOLSON, from the managers appointed on the part of this House, to attend a conference with the Senate, on the subject-matter of the A message from the Senate informed the House twenty-fifth amendment, disagreed to by this that the Senate insist on their sixteenth amend- House, and insisted on by the Senate, to the bill, ment, disagreed to by this House, to the bill, en- entitled "An act making provision for the distitled "An act further to alter and establish cer-posal of the public lands in the Indiana Territory, tain post roads, and for other purposes;" and desire a farther conference with this House on the subject-matter of the said amendment; to which farther conference the Senate have appointed managers on their part. The Senate recede from their twenty-fourth amendment to the bill, entitled "An act making provision for the disposal of the public lands in the Indiana Territory, and for Whole on the bill from the Senate, to amend the other purposes;" and they do insist on their twen- laws providing for the organization of the acty-fifth amendment to the said bill. The Senate desire a conference with this House on the sub-counting offices of the Treasury, War and Navy Departments. ject-matter of the said twenty-fifth amendment, and have appointed managers at the said conference on their part. The House proceeded to reconsider the sixteenth amendment of the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act further to alter and establish certain post roads, and for other purposes;" as also, to consider the report of the joint committee of conference, made this day, on the subject-matter thereof: Where upon, Resolved, That this House doth adhere to their disagreement to the said sixteenth amendment. A message from the Senate, informed the House that the Senate have passed a bill, entitled "An act for the relief of Moses Young;" to which they desire the concurrence of this House. The SPEAKER laid before the House a letter and report from the Secretary of the Treasury, accompanied with two statements, marked A and B, respecting the "moneys which, since the establishment of the present Government, have been paid as fees to assistant counsel, and for legal advice in the business of the United States;" prepared in pursuance of a resolution of this House, of the third instant; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table. A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have passed the bill, entitled "An act concerning the public buildings in the City of Washington," with an amendment; to which they desire the concurrence of this House. The bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act for the relief of Moses Young;" was read twice and committed to the Committee of Claims. The House went into a Committee of the ACCOUNTS OF DEPARTMENTS. The House went into a Committee of the Mr. DANA observed that this appeared to be a bill for the revival of the office of Commissioner had been no report on the subject, he was not preof Loans. This might be necessary; but as there pared to say that the measure was necessary. Mr. NICHOLSON called for the reading of the report of the Committee of Ways and Means and an accompanying letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, which were read. The Committee rose and reported the bill. The House immediately took it up, and ordered it to a third reading. The bill was accordingly read the third time, and on the question whether the same shall pass? Mr. CONRAD desired the taking of the yeas and nays. Mr. C. said that he had expected a very different bill from the present, in consequences of the resolutions entered into by the House at an early stage of the session. It was then generit now appeared that it was contemplated to creally expected that two offices would be abolished; ate a new office. He trusted the bill would not pass. the bill, by yeas and nays, and passed in the nega- William Blackledge, Adam Boyd, Joseph Bryan, miah Morrow, Thomas Newton, jun., Joseph H. Nicholson, Samuel D. Purviance, John Randolph, Thomas M. Randolph, Thomas Sandford, Tompson J. Skinner, James Sloan, John Smilie, John Smith of Virginia, Joseph Stanton, Philip R. Thompson, Matthew Walton, and Richard Winn. NAYS-Isaac Anderson, George Michael Bedinger, Silas Betton, Walter Bowie, Robert Brown, William Chamberlin, Clifton Claggett, John Clopton, Frederick Conrad, Manasseh Cutler, Samuel W. Dana, William Dickson, Thomas Dwight, James Elliot, Ebenezer Elmer, Thomas Griffin, Gaylord Griswold, Seth Hastings, Joseph Heister, William Hoge, James Holland, David Hough, William Kennedy, Henry W. Livingston, Andrew McCord, David Meriwether, Nahum Mitchell, Thomas Moore, Gideon Olin, Thomas Plater, John Rhea of Tennessee, Jacob Richards, Thomas Sammons, Henry Southard, Richard Stanford, William Stedman, John Stewart, Samuel Taggart, Samuel Tenney, Samuel Thatcher, David Thomas. Isaac Van Horne, Joseph B. Varnum, and Lemuel Williams. And so the said bill was rejected. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. MARCH, 1804. McCreery, Nahum Mitchell, Samuel L. Mitchill, Andrew Moore, Thomas Moore, Jeremiah Morrow, Anthony New, Thomas Newton jr., Joseph H. Nicholson, Gideon Olin, Beriah Palmer, Thomas Plater, Samuel D. Purviance, Thomas M. Randolph, Jacob Richards, Thomas Sammons, Thos. Sandford, Tompson J. Skinner, John Smilie, John Cotton Smith, John Smith of Virginia, Henry Southard, Joseph Stanton, William Stedman, Samuel Taggart, Samuel Tenney, Samuel Thatcher, Philip R. Thompson, Killian K. Van Rensselaer, Joseph B. Varnum, Peleg Wadsworth, Lemuel Williams, Marmaduke Williams, and Richard Winn. Ordered, That this House doth disagree to the said amendment. MONDAY, March 26. A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate insist on their amendment, disagreed to by this House, to the bill, entitled "An act concerning the public buildings at the City of Washington;" and desire a conference thereon with this House; to which they have appointed managers on their part. Ordered. That the committee who were direct The House took up the amendment proposed by the Senate, to the bill entitled "An act concerning the public buildings at the City of Wash-ed by a resolution of this House, of the twentyhington:" Whereupon, the said amendment being fourth of November last, "to inquire into the twice read, to strike out in the fourth, fifth, and expediency of amending the several acts providsixth lines of the original bill, the following ing for the sale of the public lands of the United words, to wit: "proceeding with the public build- States," to whom were referred, during the presings at the City of Washington, and in making ent session, the petitions and memorials of sundry such necessary improvements and repairs thereon, inhabitants of Fairfield county, in the State of as he shall deem expedient:" and to insert, in lieu Ohio; of Zaccheus Biggs, and others, receivers thereof, the following words, "finishing the Presi- of public moneys; of sundry citizens residing bedent's House in such manner as will accommodate tween the Great and Little Miami rivers, in the both Houses of Congress; and for the purpose of State of Ohio; of sundry inhabitants of the said renting, purchasing, or building a suitable house State of Ohio; of sundry inhabitants of the counfor the accommodation of the President:" ties of Knox, St. Clair, and Randolph, in the Indiana Territory of the United States; of sundry claimants to lands between the Great and Little Miama rivers, and above what is usually termed Ludlow's line, in the State of Ohio; of sundry citizens claiming the right of pre-emption to certain lands in the Miama country, within and above said Ludlow's line; of sundry inhabitants of Claiborne county, in the Mississippi Territory of the United States; and, also, the affidavits and certificates of Jonathan Donnald, and others, in opposition to the prayer of a petition presented the eighteenth of January last; be discharged from the consideration of the same. Messrs. J. RANDOLPH, and SLOAN supported; and Messrs. LEWIS, SMILIE, DAWSON, CLAIBORNE, and ELMER Opposed this amendment; when the question was taken by yeas and nays on agreeing to it and passed in the negative-yeas 27, nays 76, as follows: YEAS-Isaac Anderson, David Bard, George W. Campbell, Matthew Clay, Frederick Conrad, Jacob Crowninshield, Richard Cutts, William Findley, John Fowler, Gaylord Griswold, Josiah Hasbrouck, Joseph Heister, William Hoge, James Holland, Andrew McCord, David Meriwether, John Patterson, John Randolph, John Rea of Pennsylvania, John Rhea of Tennessee, Erastus Root, James Sloan, Richard Sandford, John Stewart, Isaac Van Horne, Matthew Walton, and Joseph Winston. NAYS-Willis Alston, jr., John Archer, Simeon Baldwin, George Michael Bedinger, Silas Betton, William Blackledge, Walter Bowie, Adam Boyd, Robert Brown, Joseph Bryan, John Campbell, William Chamberlin, Martin Chittenden, Clifton Claggett, Thomas Claiborne, John Clopton, Manasseh Cutler, Samuel W. Dana, John Davenport, John Dawson, William Dickson, Thomas Dwight, John B. Earle, Peter Early, James Elliot, Ebenezer Elmer, James Gillespie, Thos. Griffin, Roger Griswold, John A. Hanna, Seth Hastings, William Helms, David Holmes, David Hough, Benjamin Huger, John G. Jackson, Walter Jones, William Kennedy, Nehemiah Knight, Joseph Lewis, jun., Henry W. Livingston, Matthew Lyon, William Mr. JOHN C. SMITH, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was committed, on the twentyfourth instant, the bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act for the relief of Moses Young," reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill under consideration, and directed him to report to the House their agreement to the same: Whereupon, the bill was read the third time, and passed. A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have passed the bill, entitled "An act supplementary to the act, entitled 'An act providing for a Naval Peace Establishment, and for other purposes," with an amendment; to which they desire the concurrence of this House. The House proceeded to consider the said |