On motion by Mr. Noble, The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the Senators present, Those who voted in the affirmative, are-Messrs. Barton, Bell, Foot, Hendricks, Knight, Noble, Prince, Ruggles, Seymour, Silsbee, and Willey. Those who voted in the negative, are-Messrs. Benton, Branch, Chambers, Chandler, Chase, Dickerson, Eaton, Ellis, Johnson, of Kentucky, Johnston, of Louisiana, Kane, King, McLane, Marks, Robbins, Rowan, Sanford, Smith, of Maryland, Thomas, White, Williams, and Woodbury. On motion by Mr. Woodbury, and by unanimous consent, Resolved, That the Senate will, on Monday next, proceed to the appointment of their Standing Committees. The Senate then adjourned. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1828. The Honorable John Tyler, from the State of Virginia, attended. Agreeably to notice given, Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill for the preservation and repair of the Cumberland road; which was read; and Ordered, That it pass to a second reading. Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, presented the petition of William W. Whittaker, James Wilson, and Joseph D. Hamilton, sureties of Amos Edwards, late Collector of direct taxes for the sixth collection district in Kentucky, praying to be released from responsibility for the defalcations of their principal; and, On motion by Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, Ordered, That it lie on the table. The bill for the continuation of the Cumberland road, was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and, On motion by Mr. Noble, Ordered, That it lie on the table. On motion by Mr. Marks, Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns, it be to Monday next. MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1828. The Honorable John McKinley, from the State of Alabama, and the Honorable Isaac D. Barnard, from the State of Pennsylvania, severally attended. Agreeably to notice given Mr. Benton asked and obtained leave to bring in the following bills, viz: A bill to graduate the price of the public lands, to make provision for actual settlers, and to cede the refuse upon equitable terms, and for meritorious objects, to the States in which they lie; A bill to authorize the President of the United States to cause the reservved Salt Springs in the State of Missouri to be exposed to public sale; A bill to authorize the President of the United States to cause the reserved Lead Mines, in the State of Missouri, to be exposed to public sale; A bill explanatory of an act, entitled "An act to reduce and fix the military peace establishment of the United States," passed March 2d, 1821; A bill for the relief of sundry citizens of the United States, who have lost property by the depredations of certain Indian tribes; A bill for the relief of John Smith T. and Wilson P. Hunt; A bill for the relief of Nathaniel Patten; and A bill allowing the duties on foreign merchandise, imported into Louisville, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and St. Louis, to be secured and paid at those places. The said bills were respectively read; and Ordered, That they severally pass to a second reading. Agreeably to notice given, Mr. Benton asked and obtained leave to bring in a joint resolution for the care and preservation of the Cumberland road, and of other roads made or to be madeby the federal government, within the limits of the several States; which was read; and Ordered, That it pass to a second reading. On motion by Mr Benton, Ordered, That the said resolution be printed. The two following written messages were received from the President of the United States, by Mr John Adams, his Secretary: WASHINGTON, 8th December, 1828. To the Senate of the United States: In compliance with a resolution of the Senate, of the 26th of May last, I transmit a report of the Secretary of the Treasury with statements relative to the estimates and appropriations for the expenses of the year 1828, at the last session of Congress. JOIN QUINCY ADAMS. WASHINGTON, 8th December, 1828. To the Senate of the United States: I transmit to the Senate a report from the Secretary of War, with documents prepared in compliance with their resolution of the 26th of May last, concerning the practicability and probable cost of constructing an artificial harbor, commonly called a "Breakwater" at or near the mouth of the Mississippi. The messages were severally read; and JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. The following motion, submitted by Mr. Barton, was considered and agreed to: Resolved, That the Committee on Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of so modifying the act of Congress, passed on the 24th of May last, making donations of land to the citizens of Arkansas, actually settled west of a line running north from Red River with the Choctaw line to the Arkansas, and thence a straight line to the south-west corner of the State of Missouri, as to prevent the claimants from locating any improved land, until the same shall have been offered for sale, unless by the consent of the owner of said improvement. The bill for the preservation and repair of the Cumberland road, was read the second time and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and, On motion by Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, Ordered, That it lie on the table. Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, presented the petition of Minerva Catlett, widow and execrutrix of Hanson Catlett, deceased, praying remuneration for certain disbursements made by her late husband, on public account, whilst performing the duties of Hospital Surgeon at the Arsenal near Pittsburg; and, On motion by Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, Ordered, That it lie on the table. Mr. Tyler presented the petition of George Taylor, praying to be indemnified for losses sustained by French spoliations, prior to the year 1800, and Resolved, That it be referred to a select committee, to consist of five members, to consider and report thereon, by bill or otherwise. Ordered, That Mr. Tyler, Mr. Chambers, Mr. Johnston, of Louisiana, Mr. Bell, and Mr. Sanford, be the committee. Mr. Chambers presented the petition of the widow and heirs of John Gwynn, late of the City of Baltimore, deceased, praying that a warrant for 100 acres of military bounty land, to which the deceased was entitled as a Sergeant in the Revolutionary war, may be issued to them: and, On motion by Mr Chambers, Ordered, That it lie on the table. Agreeably to order, the Senate proceeded, by ballot, to the appointment of the Standing Committees; and Ordered, That Mr Tazewell, Mr. Sanford, Mr. White, Mr. Berrien, and Mr. Bell, be the Committee on Foreign Relations. That Mr. Smith, of Maryland, Mr McLane, Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, Mr. Branch, and Mr Silsbee, be the Committee on Finance. That Mr. Woodbury, Mr. Silsbee, Mr. Johnston, of Louisiana, Mr. Williams, and Mr. McLane, be the Committee on Commerce. That Mr. Dickerson, Mr. Ruggles, Mr. Knight, Mr. Bernard, and Mr. Ridgely, be the Committee on Manufactures; and That Mr. Bateman, Mr. Bouligny, Mr. Willey, Mr. Marks, and Mr. Chambers, be the Committee on Agriculture. On motion by Mr. Eaton, Ordered, That the appointment of the other committee, be postponed until to-morrow. After the consideration of Executive business, The Senate adjourned. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1828. The Honorable Robert Y. Hayne, from the State of South Carolina, at tended. The President communicated a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting his annual report on the state of the finances of the United States, prepared in obedience to the directions of the act of the 10th May, 1800, supplementary to the act, entitled 'An act to establish the Treasury Department." The letter was read; and, 66 On motion by Mr. Eaton, Ordered, That 1500 copies thereof, with the report and documents, be printed for the use of the Senate. The President communicated a letter from the Commissioner of the General Land Office, transmitting reports made by the Registers and Receivers of several of the Land Offices, upon the quantity and quality of the land remaining unsold in their respective districts, on the 30th day of June, 1828, after having been offered at the minimum price of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre; and the length of time the lands have been in market: pre pared in obedience to a resolution of the Senate, of the 25th of April last. The letter was read; and, On motion by Mr. Benton, Ordered, That the letter and accompanying documents be printed. The President communicated a memorial from three citizens of the town of Alexandria, in the District of Columbia, praying for the removal from office, of one of the Justices of the Peace of the County of Alexandria, for mal-practices; and, On motion by Mr. Woodbury, Ordered, That it lie on the table. The following written message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. John Adams, his Secretary: WASHINGTON, 9th December, 1828. To the Senate of the United States: The enclosed report from the Secretary of State, and subjoined documents, are transmitted to the Senate in compliance with their resolution of 25th April last, requesting information concerning the number of free taxable inhabitants, who are not freeholders, in certain States and Territories of the Union. The message was read; and, On motion by Mr. Benton, Ordered, That it be printed. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. Agreeably to notice given, Mr. Noble asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill for the relief of Henry Case; and a bill granting to William Conner the right of pre-emption to six hundred and forty-eight acres of land. The said bills were severally read; and Ordered, That they severally pass to a second reading. The following motion, submitted by Mr. Benton, was considered and agreed to: Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause a detailed statement of the amount expended by the federal government upon works of internal improvement, within the limits of the different States, to be laid before the Senate, so as to show how much has been expended in each State upon such works, from the adoption of the Federal Constitution to the first day of October last, with an estimate of the amount necessary to complete any work which is begun, and not yet completed. The following motion, submitted by Mr. Johnston, of Louisiana, was considered and agreed to: Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed to communicate to the Senate, the report of the survey and estimate for the improvement of the harbor of St. Marks, in Florida, made in pursuance of an act of the last session of Congress. On motion by Mr. Benton, The Senate resumed the appointment of the Standing Committees; and Ordered, That Mr. Benton, Mr Johnson, of Kentucky, Mr. Barnard, Mr. Chandler, and Mr. Hendricks, be the Committee on Military Affairs; That Mr. Chandler, Mr. Marks, Mr Tyler, Mr. McKinley, and Mr. Branch, be the Committee on the Militia; That Mr. Hayne, Mr. Robbins, Mr. Seymour, Mr. Woodbury, and Mr. Tazewell, be the Committee on Naval Affairs; That Mr. Barton, Mr. King, Mr. Eaton, Mr. Ellis, and Mr. Kane, be the Committee on Public Lands; That Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, Mr. McKinley, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Kane, and Mr. Barton, be the Committee on Private Land Claims; . That Mr. White, Mr. Foot, Mr. King, Mr. Prince, and Mr. Benton, be the Committee on Indian Affairs; That Mr. Ruggles, Mr. Bell, Mr. Chase, Mr. Rowan, and Mr. Webster, be the Committee of Claims; That Mr. Berrien, Mr. Seymour, Mr. Webster, Mr. Rowan, and Mr. Hayne, be the Committee on the Judiciary; That Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, Mr Ellis, Mr. Tyler, Mr. Johnston, of Louisiana, and Mr. Silsbee, be the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads; That Mr. Noble, Mr. Marks, Mr. Chase, Mr. Foot, and Mr. Prince, be the Committee on Pensions; That Mr. Eaton, Mr. Bouligny, Mr. Chambers, Mr. Noble, and Mr. Ridgely, be the Committee on the District of Columbia; That Mr. Kane, Mr. Hendricks, and Mr. Chambers, be the Committee to audit and control the contingent expenses of the Senate; That Mr. Marks, Mr. Willey, and Mr. Bateman, be the Committee on Engrossed Bills. On motion by Mr Johnson, of Kentucky, Ordered, That the petition of William W. Whittaker, and others, presented on the fifth instant, be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, presented sundry documents in support of the claim of Nathaniel Mothershead, for a pension, in consequence of a wound received in the Revolutionary war; and Ordered, That they be referred to the Committee on Pensions. Mr. Dickerson presented the memorial of William Gamble, praying to be compensated for services rendered as Inspector of the Customs for the district of Niagara; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. Chandler presented the petition of Peter H. Greene, of the State of Maine, praying that his claims for additional allowance for supplies furnished by him to the troops of the United States, in the course of the late war, and for losses which he sustained by the depreciation of Treasury Notes, may be adjusted on principles of equity; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Claims. On motion by Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, Ordered, That the petition of Minerya Catlett, presented yesterday, be referred to the Committee of Claims. The Senate then adjourned. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1828. On motion by Mr. Woodbury, Ordered, That the memorial of certain citizens of Alexandria, presented yesterday, be referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia. On motion by Mr. Eaton, Ordered, That the memorial of James Leander Cathcart, presented on the 2d instant, be referred to the Committee of Claims. On motion by Mr. Woodbury, Ordered, That the petition of Benjamin Connor, presented on the 4th instant, be referred to the Committee on Publie Lands. On motion by Mr. Chambers, Ordered, That the petition of the widow and heirs of John Gwynn, presented on the 8th instant, be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. |