THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1829. Mr. Sanford communicated the credentials of the Hon. Charles E. Dudley, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of New York, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of the Hon. Martin Van Buren. Mr. Dudley then attended, and the oath prescribed by law was administered to him, and he took his seat in the Senate. Mr. Silsbee presented the memorial of the Mercantile Insurance Company of Salem, in Massachusetts, praying for the remission of the sum paid by said company as duties on certain articles of rigging brought into the United States on their account, from the wreck of the brig Lydia; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Finance. Mr. Webster presented the memorial of a large number of the citizens of Boston, complaining of the injurious and unequal effects of the law of the last session of Congress, "in alteration of the several acts imposing duties on imports," on commerce and navigation; and praying for a general revision of the present tariff system; and Ordered, That it lie on the table, and be printed. Mr. Tyler presented the petition of several officers of the Army, praying that the act of Congress regulating the Medical Department of the Army, be so amended as to grant to the Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons additional compensation; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Marks presented additional papers in support of the claim of George Wilson, of Pennsylvania, to certain lands; and Ordered, That they be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Chambers presented the petition of George W. Hall, executor of Edward Hall, praying to be indemnified for French spoliations, committed prior to the year 1800; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Select Committee, appointed the 8th ultimo, on that subject. Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, presented a remonstrance of a number of the inhabitants of Penn Township, in Pennsylvania, against the passage of any law to prohibit the transportation and opening of the mail on the Sabbath day; and Ordered, That it lie on the table. Mr. Webster from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the petition of Peter A. Guestier, made a report, accompanied by the follow ing resolution. Resolved, That the petitioner have leave to withdraw his petition. Mr. Ruggles, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the petition of Hickman Johnson, guardian of Juliet E. Sollers, made a report, accompanied by the following resolution: Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioner ought not to be granted. Mr. Benton laid on the table an amendment to be proposed to the bill to provide for the distribution of a part of the revenues of the United States among the several States; and Ordered, That it be printed. Mr. Kane, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the petition of the inhabitants of Florida, on the subject, reported a bill to authorize the establishment of a town on land reserved for the use of schools in Florida; which was read; and Ordered, That it pass to a second reading. Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, from the Committee on Private Land Claims, to whom was referred the petition of the legal representatives of William Scott, deceased, citizens of the State of Mississippi, made a report, accompanied by a bill for their relief. The bill was read; and Ordered, That it pass to a second reading. Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, from the same committee, to whom was referred the petition of Pierre Leglize, made a report, accompanied by a bill for his relief. The bill was read; and Ordered, That it pass to a second reading. On motion by Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, Ordered, That the Committee on Private Land Claims be discharged from the further consideration of the memorial of the citizens of the Illinois, who belonged to Colonel George Rogers Clark's expedition, and that it be referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. White, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was referred the bill to encourage the discovery and working of certain copper mines, supposed to be on the south side of Lake Superior, reported it with an amendment. Mr. Ridgely, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, to whom was referred the bill, entitled "An act for the relief of Charles A. Burnett," reported it without amendment. Mr. Chambers, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill entitled "An act to incorporate the Washington, Alexandria, and Georgetown Steam Packet Company," reported it without amendment. The following motion, submitted by Mr. Branch, was considered and agreed to: Resolved, That the Committee on Indian Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of making an appropriation of money, for the purpose of extinguishing the title to the remaining Indian reservations of land in North Carolina. On motion by Mr. Chandler, and by unanimous consent, Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of equalizing the salaries of the District Judges of the United States. The Senate proceeded to consider the report of the Committee on the Judiciary, on the expediency of increasing the salaries of the District Judges of Rhode Island, Maine, and South Carolina; and, in concurrence therewith, Resolved, That the Committee be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. The Senate proceeded to consider the report of the Committee on the Judiciary, on the propriety and necessity of so amending the Judicial System, as to place all the States in a similar situation, and furnish to the citizens of each an equal opportunity of having a due administration of justice; and, On motion by Mr. Berrien, Ordered, That it lie on the table. The bill, entitled "An act releasing the lien of the United States upon a part of the land of Benjamin Owens, in Anne Arundel county, State of Maryland, to the Trustees of Mount Zion Meeting-house, in said County and State;" and The bill, entitled "An act to allow further time to complete the issuing and locating of military land warrants," were severally read the third time; and Resolved, That they pass. Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives accordingly. The bill to authorize a subscription for stock, on the part of the United States, in the Louisville and Portland Canal Company; and The bill to authorize the payment of the five per centum of the nett proceeds of the sales of the lands of the United States, in the State of Louisiana, having been reported by the committee correctly engrossed, they were severally read the third time; and Resolved, That they pass, and that their titles respectively be as aforesaid. Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives in said bills. On motion by Mr. Barton, The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill authorizing the relinquishment of the sixteenth sections, granted for the use of schools in the State of Mississippi, and the entry of other lands in lieu thereof; and it was amended and reported to the Senate, and the amendments being concurred in, On motion by Mr. Berrien, Ordered, That the bill lie on the table. After the consideration of Executive business, The Senate adjourned. FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1829. Mr. Silsbee presented the petition of Richard D. Tucker, executor of Frederick W. Geyer, praying to be indemnified for losses sustained by French spoliations committed prior to the year 1800; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Select Committee, appointed the 8th ultimo, on that subject. Mr. Willey presented the petition of Aaron Buckland, praying for a pension in consideration of revolutionary services; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Pensions. Mr. Marks presented a resolution of the Legislature of the State of Pennsylvania, instructing the Senators, and requesting the Representatives from that State in Congress, "to procure, if practicable, the passage of a law to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia, in such a manner as they may consider consistent with the rights of individuals and the constitution of the United States;" and, On motion by Mr. Marks, Ordered, That it lie on the table. The Senate proceeded to consider the report of the Committee on the Judiciary, on the petition of Peter A. Guestier; and, in concurrence therewith, Resolved, That the petitioner have leave to withdraw his petition. The Senate proceeded to consider the report of the Committee of Claims, on the petition of Hickman Johnson, guardian of Juliet E. Sollers; and, On motion by Mr. Ruggles, Ordered, That it lie on the table. After the consideration of Executive business, On motion by Mr. Holmes, Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns it be to Monday next. The Vice-President communicated the following letter from the President of the United States: To the President of the Senate of the United States: WASHINGTON, January 29, 1829. SIR: I transmit, herewith, a letter which I have received from Mr. David, member of the Institute of France, Professor of the School of Painting at Paris, and member of the Legion of Honor, the artist who presents to Congress the bust of General Lafayette, which has been received with it. And I have to request the favor, that, after it has been communicated to the Senate, it may be transmitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for similar communication to that body. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. The Vice-President communicated a letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting fifty copies of the Army Register for the year 1829; and A letter from the same officer, transmitting statements of the contracts made by that Department in the year 1828, prepared in obedience to the 5th section of "the act concerning public contracts." The Vice-President communicated the credentials of the Honorable John McLean, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of Illinois, for the term of six years, from and after the third day of March next. The Vice-President communicated the petition of Lemuel Pardee, praying for a pension in consideration of revolutionary services; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Pensions. Mr. Webster presented the memorial of A. and C. Cunningham, merchants of Boston, praying for the remission of the additional duties that accrued on a quantity of Russian goods imported into the United States by them, in the months of October and November last; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Finance. Mr. Webster presented the petition of a number of the inhabitants of Newtown, in Massachusetts, praying that the custom of transporting and opening of the mail on the Sabbath day may be prohibited; and Mr. Ruggles presented the memorial of the citizens of St. Clairsville, Ohio, on the same subject; and Ordered, That the petition and memorial lie on the table. Mr. Ruggles presented the memorial of the citizens of Hamilton, and the memorial of the citizens of Warren, Ohio, severally praying that an appropriation may be made for the purpose of making an additional survey and estimate of a road from Zanesville, Ohio, to Nashville, Tennessee, and from thence to strike the national road from Washington to New Orleans; and Ordered, That they be referred to the Select Committee on Roads and Canals. Mr. Bell laid on the table additional documents in support of the application of Moses Elliot, for a renewal of his patent; and Ordered, That they be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Kane presented the following memorials of the Legislature of the State of Illinois, praying, 1. For a reduction of the price of the public lands; 2. For an appropriation of money to be applied to the removing of ob structions to the navigation of certain rivers in said State; and 3. For authority to dispose of the school lands, and the privilege of exchanging the township of land granted to the State for the purpose of a seminary of learning; and Ordered, That the first memorial lie on the table, and be printed; That the second be referred to the Select Committee on Roads and Canals; and That the third be referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. Chambers presented the petition of sundry citizens of the District of Columbia, who have associated under the name of "The Potomac Steam Packet Company," praying for the passage of an act of incorporation; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the District of Colum bia. Mr. Chambers presented the memorial of Charles F. Kalkman, of Baltimore, praying to be released from the payment of certain revenue bonds; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. Mr. Eaton, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, reported a bill to alter the bridge and draw across the Potomac, from Washington City to Alexandria; which was read; and Ordered, That it pass to a second reading. Mr. Woodbury, from the Committee on the Library of Congress, to whom was referred the memorial of I. L. Skinner, on the subject, reported a bill in addition to "An act to promote the progress of useful arts, and to repeal the act heretofore made for that purpose," passed February 21st, 1793; which was read; and Ordered, That it pass to a second reading. Mr. Berrien, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill, entitled "An act to cede to the State of South Carolina the jurisdiction over, and the title to, a certain tract of land called Mount Dearborn, in the said State," reported it without amendment. Mr. Benton, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom were referred the following bills, reported them severally without amendment, viz: "An act to continue the present mode of supplying the Army of the United States, and for other purposes;" "An act for the relief of Riddle, Becktill, and Headington;" "An act for the relief of the representatives of James A. Harper, deceas ed." "An act for the relief of Thomas Hunt; and "An act for the relief of Archibald W. Hamilton." Mr. Benton laid on the table, letters from the Secretary of War, with an estimate of the expense of mounting four companies of Infantry. On motion by Mr. Tazewell, Resolved, That a committee be appointed, to join such committee as may be appointed by the House of Representatives, to ascertain and report a mode of examining the votes of President and Vice-President of the United States, and of notifying the persons elected of their election. Ordered, That Mr. Tazewell, Mr. Sanford, and Mr. Webster, be the committee on the part of the Senate. Ordered, That the Secretary ask the concurrence of the House of Representatives in said resolution., Mr. Iredell, from the committee, reported that they had examined and found duly enrolled, |