bill (H. R. 1053) for the relief of Joseph Jackson, reported it without amendment.

On motion by Mr. Sevier,

Ordered, That the Committee on Indian Affairs be discharged from the consideration of a memorial of the Legislature of the Territory of Wisconşin, presented the 28th January last.

Mr. Sevier, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was recommitted the bill (H. R. 168) for the relief of Milley Yates, reported it without amendment.

Mr. Merrick, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 520) for the relief of the legal representatives of Michael Fenwick, reported it without amendment.

Mr. Swift, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 469) providing for paying three companies of militia, in the State of Indiana, called into the service of the United States, reported it with an amendment; which was read.

Mr. Wall, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (S. 282) to alter the time of holding the fall term of the circuit court of the United States for the district of Michigan, reported it with an amendment; which was read.

Mr. Wall, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (S. 281) to amend the act of the 3d March, 1837, entitled "An act supplementary to the act entitled 'An act to amend the judicial system of the United States,' and for other purposes," reported it without amendment.

Mr. Wall, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 437) to provide for the settlement of the claims of Walter Jones against the United States, reported it without amendment.

Mr. Wall, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 884) for the relief of the heirs of Peyton Randolph, deceased, reported it without amendment; and that the bill ought not to pass.

Mr. Morris, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom the following bills were referred :

H. R. 926. “An act for the relief of John England;"

H. R. 927. “An act for the relief of Jacob Baugh ;"

H. R. 928.

"An act for the relief of Elizabeth Jones and others ;"
“An act for the relief of Oliver Peck;"

"An act for the relief of Elizabeth Durant;"

"An act for the relief of the widow of Captain James Hun

H. R. 934. "An act for the relief of Fielding Pratt;"

H. R. 949. "An act granting a pension to Samuel Hatten, of the State of Virginia ;" reported them, severally, without amendment; and that they ought not to pass.

Mr. Fulton, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred a petition of a number of the citizens of Southport, reported a bill (S. 286) in relation to the town of Southport, in the Territory of Wisconsin; which was read, and passed to the second reading.

Agreeably to notice, Mr. Allen asked and obtained leave to bring in a resolution (S. 11) authorizing certain certificates of deposite to the credit of the Treasurer of the United States to be cancelled and reissued; which was read, and passed to the second reading.

Ordered, That the resolution be printed.

A message from the President of the United States, by Mr. Van Buren,

his secretary:

Mr. President: The President of the United States approved, the 6th instant :

An act for the relief of Jechonias Pigot and Benjamin Lecraft, sureties of James Manney, late collector of the customs for the district of Beaufort, in the State of North Carolina;

An act to remit or refund to the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad Company, the duties upon certain railroad iron;

An act for the relief of William East;

An act for the relief of the heirs of John Brahan, late receiver of public moneys at Huntsville, Alabama;

An act for the relief of John Newton;

An act for the relief of Erastus Fairbanks and Thaddeus Fairbanks; An act for the relief of Elisha Town;

An act for the relief of Sarah Angel, and the other heirs at law of Benjamin King, deceased;

An act for the relief of Jean B. Vallé;

An act for the relief of the owners of the British brig Despatch;

An act to remunerate the captors of the privateer Lydia;

An act to confirm the sale of certain reservations;

An act for the relief of Thomas Sumpter;

An act to amend an act to carry into effect the intention of an act entitled "An act to renew the patent of Thomas Blanchard," approved June 30th, 1834: and, the 13th instant, the following acts:

An act for the relief of William B. Ferguson and sureties;

An act for the relief of Dr. John Campbell White, of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland;

An act for the relief of Henry Wilson, confirming purchases of certain lands in Arkansas;

Resolution for the purchase of the island at the confluence of the St. Peters and Mississippi rivers.

The following motion, submitted by Mr. Robinson, was considered, by unanimous consent, and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury communicate to the Senate, if any, and what, banks in Illinois, since their resumption of specie payment, in May last, have applied to be made banks of deposite; and, if any, the reasons why not so made.

On motion by Mr. Wall,

Ordered, That the report of the Library Committee, made the 28th January, on the subject of the publication of the Madison papers, be recommitted to the Committee on the Library.

Mr. Norvell submitted the following motion for consideration:

Resolved, That the daily hour of the meeting of the Senate shall be at eleven o'clock, until otherwise ordered.

The bill from the House of Representatives (H. R. 708) for the relief of James H. Grant, Moses W. Simpson, and Preston Going, was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

The bill (H. R. 851) for the relief of Jamison and Williamson, and the bill (H. R. 852) for the relief of Cornelius Taylor, were severally read the

first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

The bill (H. R. 1091) to repeal the proviso to the second section of an act approved the 3d of March, 1837, which authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to compromise the claims of the United States against certain banks, was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on Finance.

The bill (H. R. 899) for the relief of Griffith Coombe and John P. Ingle, trustees of the house in the City of Washington, commonly called the Brick Capitol, was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee of Claims.

The resolution (H. R. 46) requesting the President to present to James Rumsey, jr., a gold medal, was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

The following motion, submitted by Mr. Tallmadge, having been amended, on motion by Mr. Benton, was agreed to, as follows:

Resolved, That the Secretary of War communicate to the Senate copies of all proposals for furnishing supplies of goods or merchandise to the Indian Department, and of all contracts entered into for the same,

first of May last, and of all correspondence with the department in relation to said proposals and contracts; and whether any mode of procuring such supplies has been adopted, other than by advertising for proposals and giving the contracts to those offering the most favorable terms: and that he also inform the Senate what has been the result of the late attempts to revive the mode of supplying the Indians with goods by contract, and how far the goods obtained by such contracts have been at fair prices, good quality, and suitable kind; and that all information in possession of the department, or in its power to obtain without delay, bearing on the price, quality, and fitness of the goods so obtained by contract, be communicated to the Senate; and, also, the comparative view of said contracts, with the purchases of Indian goods, previously made by the agents and officers of the United States.

The Senate proceeded to consider the motion submitted yesterday by Mr. Tallmadge, in relation to the removal from office of deputy postmasters; and agreed thereto.

Mr. Rives submitted the following motion; which was read, and ordered to be printed:

Whereas "the constitutional remedy by the elective principle becomes nothing, if it may be smothered by the enormous patronage of the General Government;" and whereas, also, "freedom of election is essential to the national independence of the State and Federal Government, so vitally cherished by American institutions:"

Resolved, therefore, That, in the opinion of the Senate, it is highly "improper for officers, depending on the Executive of the Union, to attempt to control, or influence the free exercise of the elective right."

Resolved, also, That measures ought to be adopted by Congress, so far as their constitutional powers may extend, to restrain by law all interference of Federal officers with elections, otherwise than by giving their own votes; and that the report of the Judiciary Committee be committed to a select committee, with instructions to new model it according to the principles declared in the foregoing preamble and resolutions.

The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (S. 131) to prevent the interference of certain federal officers in elections; and, After debate,

On motion,

The Senate adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1839.

Mr. Mouton presented the petition of Thomas J. Durant and James Towzer, of the State of Louisiana, praying a grant of public land for the cultivation and manufacture of silk; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

Mr. Knight presented the memorial of the officers of the revenue cutter Vigilant, praying that the provisions of the pension laws may be extended to officers and seamen attached to the revenue cutter service; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. Mouton presented resolutions passed by the General Assembly of the State of Louisiana, instructing the Senators and requesting the Representatives of the said State in Congress to urge the expediency of improving the navigation of the Atchafalaya and Red rivers.

Ordered, That they lie on the table, and be printed.

On motion by Mr. Roane,

Ordered, That Saturday next be assigned to the consideration of the bills relating to the District of Columbia.

Mr. Tallmadge, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom the following bills were referred:

H. R. 171. "An act for the relief of the legal reprensentatives of Henry Richardson, deceased;"

H. R. 173. "An act for the relief of Benjamin Hewitt;" reported them, severally, without amendment.

Mr. Merrick, from the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 850) for the relief of Josiah F. Caldwell, reported it without amendment; and that the bill ought not to pass.

Mr. Robinson, from the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 852) for the relief of Cornelius Taylor, reported it without amendment.

Mr. Williams, of Maine, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 303) for the relief of Samuel Hambleton, a purser in the navy of the United States, reported it without amendment.

Mr. Cuthbert, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 172) for the relief of Spencer C. Gist, reported it without amendment.

Mr. Cuthbert, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred a bill (H. R. 175) to allow additional compensation to William Easby, reported it without amendment; and that the bill ought not to pass.

Mr. Fulton, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom the following bills were referred:

H. R, 162. "An act for the relief of Henry C. Reviere;"

H. R. 295. "An act for the relief of William Washington Bingham ;"

H. R. 297." An act for the relief of James Cooper;"

H. R. 357. "An act for the relief of John and Samuel Rowe, heirs and

legal representatives of Ludwick Rowe, deceased ;"

H. R. 379. "An act for the relief of Zebulon Sheets ;"

H. R. 479. "An act for the relief of George Rowe;"

H. R. 789. "An act for the relief of Samuel Mussey and Thomas James, of the county of Crawford, in the State of Missouri;"

H. R. 1023. "An act for the relief of Isaac Miller;"

H. R. 1024. "An act for the relief of Peter Samuel Jaccard;"

H. R. 1075. “An act for the relief of Menzies Gilespie, late a soldier of the United States army;" reported them, severally, without amendment. Mr. Robinson, from the Committee on Roads and Canals, to whom the petition of Colin Bishop was referred, reported a bill (S. 287) for his relief; which was read, and passed to the second reading.

Mr. Rives, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom the following bills were referred :

H. R. 856. "An act for the relief of the widow or legal representatives of John Tilden;"

H. R. 857." An act for the relief of Jesse Seymour, or his representatives, and in alteration of an act entitled 'An act respecting the late officers and crew of the sloop of war Wasp,' approved April 20, 1816;"

H. R. 858. "An act for the relief of Charles Rockwell;"
H. R. 859. "An act for the relief of Thomas Kibbey ;"
H. R. 860. "An act for the relief John G. Mozart;"

H. R. 1050. "An act for the relief of Doctor J. M. Foltz;" reported them, severally, without amendment.

Mr. Foster reported from the committee that they had examined and found duly enrolled the bill (H. R. 939) to amend an act to reorganize the district courts of the United States in the State of Mississippi, approved June 18, 1838.

Mr. Williams, of Mississippi, reported from the committee that they had presented to the President of the United States the following resolution and bills:

S. 9. Resolution for the purchase of the island at the confluence of the St. Peters and Mississippi rivers;

S. 169. An act for the relief of Henry Wilson, confirming purchases of certain land in Arkansas;

S. 186. An act for the relief of William B. Ferguson and sureties; S. 203. An act for the relief of Dr. John Campbell White, of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland;

H. R. 1092. "An act to provide for the location and temporary support of the Seminole Indians, removed from Florida ;"

H. R. 893. "An act making appropriations for the payment of the revolutionary and other pensioners of the United States, for the year 1839."

The Senate proceeded to consider the motion, submitted yesterday, by Mr. Norvell, respecting the hour of meeting; which was amended and agreed to, as follows:

Resolved, That, after this week, the daily hour of meeting of the Senate shall be eleven o'clock, until otherwise ordered.

Mr. Mouton submitted the following motion; which was considered, by unanimous consent, and agreed to.

Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill making appropriation of a sum of money to defray the expenses of an examination and survey of the bar now forming at the mouths of the Red river and the Atchafalaya, in the State of Louisiana; and, also, of the ledge of rocks obstructing the navigation of Red river, opposite Alexandria, in said State.