"That a Chaplain shall be appointed to Congress during the present session, who shall perform divine service on the Sabbath day in the Representatives' Hall, and shall interchange weekly;" It passed in the negative. SENATE. informed the Senate that the House concur in the resolution of the Senate of the 10th instant, for the appointment of Chaplains, and have appointed the Reverend JESSE LEE Chaplain on their part. On motion, by Mr. LEIB, Resolved, That so much of the Message of the President of the United States as relates to the organization and discipline of the militia, be referred to a committee, with leave to report by bill or otherwise. Ordered, That Messrs. LEIB, REED, SMITH of So it was Resolved, That two Chaplains, of Maryland, ANDERSON, and GILMAN, be the comdifferent denominations, be appointed to Con-mittee. gress during the present session, one by each House, who shall interchange weekly. Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, from the committee to whom was referred the bill to suspend the second section of the act, entitled "An act regulating foreign coins, and for other purposes," re The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion submitted the 7th instant; and, Resolved, That so much of the Message of the Presi-ported it without amendment. dent of the United States, as relates to the occupation of that part of West Florida, which is included within the boundaries described by the treaty for the acquisition of Louisiana, with the accompanying documents, be referred to a select committee, with instructions to examine the same and report thereon to the Senate; and that the committee have leave to report by bill, bills, or otherwise. On the question, Shall this bill be engrossed and read a third time? it was determined in the affirmative. WEDNESDAY, December 12. The VICE PRESIDENT of the United States resumed the Chair. JESSE FRANKLIN, from the State of North CaOrdered, That Messrs. GILES, POPE, CRAW-rolina, also took his seat in the Senate. FORD, ANDERSON, and BRADLEY, be the committee. On motion, by Mr. CAMPBELL, Resolved, That so much of the Message of the President of the United States as relates to commercial abuses committed under the American flag, in carrying on an illegal traffic in enslaved Africans, be referred to a committee, to examine and report thereon to the Senate; and that the committee have leave to report by bill or otherwise. Ordered, That Messrs. CAMPBELL, DANA, BRADLEY, CUTTS, and GILMAN, be the committee. The following Message was received from the Representatives of the United States: I lay before Congress, and recommend to their early attention, a report of the Secretary of State, from which it will be seen that a very considerable demand beyond the legal appropriations, has been incurred for the support of seamen distressed by seizures, in different parts of Europe, of the vessels to which they belonged. JAMES MADISON. DECEMBER 12, 1810. thereon; and Messrs. FRANKLIN, CRAWFORD, and GOODRICH, were appointed the committee. Mr. ANDERSON presented the petition of the The Message and report were read, and referPresident and Directors of the Bank of Poto-red to a select committee, to consider and report mac, praying a charter of incorporation, for reasons stated at large in the petition; which was read, and referred to a select committee, to conThe PRESIDENT laid before the Senate the resist of five members, to consider and report port of the Secretary of the Treasury, prepared thereon by bill or otherwise; and Messrs. AN-in obedience to the act, entitled "An act to esDERSON, GILMAN, TAIT, GOODRICH, and LEIB, tablish the Treasury Department," which, towere appointed the committee. gether with the accompanying documents, were read, and ordered to lie for consideration. On motion, by Mr. GILMAN, Resolved, That a committee be appointed agreeably to the 22d rule for conducting business in the Senate. Ordered, That Messrs. CUTTS, HORSEY, and GILMAN, be the committee. On motion, by Mr. LEIB, Resolved, That a committee be appointed, agreeably to the 42d rule for conducting business in the Senate. Ordered, That Messrs. LEIB, CAMPBELL, and DANA, be the committee. TUESDAY, December 11. RICHARD BRENT, from the State of Virginia, attended. A message from the House of Representatives Mr. CUTTS, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported the bill to suspend the second seccoins, and for other purposes," correctly engrossed; tion of the act, entitled "An act regulating foreign and the bill was read the third time, and on mction, by Mr. SMITH of Maryland, it was agreed, by unanimous consent, to strike out the word "for," incorrectly quoted from the original bill. So it was Resolved, That this bill pass, and that the title thereof be "An act to suspend the second section of the act, entitled 'An act regulating foreign coins, and for other purposes." Mr. BRENT presented the petition of the stockholders of the Bank of Washington, praying a charter of incorporation, for reasons stated at large in the petition. He also presented the me morials of sundry citizens of Washington county on the same subject; which were read, and referred to Messrs. ANDERSON, GILMAN, TAIT, GOODRICH, and LEIB, the committee to whom was referred, on the 11th instant, a petition of the President and Directors of the Bank of Potomac, to consider and report thereon by bill or otherwise. On motion, by Mr. BRADLEY, the Senate proceeded to the election of a Chaplain on their part, in pursuance of the resolution of the two Houses; and, on counting of the ballots, it appeared that the Reverend WALTER D. ADDISON had a majority, and was accordingly elected. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House have passed a bill, entitled "An act to authorize the transportation of certain documents free of postage;" in which they request the concurrence of the Senate. The bill last mentioned was read, and passed to the second reading. THURSDAY, December 13. HENRY CLAY, from the State of Kentucky, took his seat in the Senate. The bill, entitled "An act to authorize the transportation of certain documents free of postage," was read the second and third time, by unanimous consent, and passed. Mr. LEIB submitted the following motion: Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the expediency of directing the Secretary of the Treasury to deposite, for collection, in other banks than that of the United States and its branches, the bonds given to the Government for duties; and that the committee have leave to report by bill or otherwise. The PRESIDENT communicated the report of the Secretary for the Department of Treasury, made in pursuance of the resolution of the Senate of the 25th of April, 1810; and also a report made in pursuance of the resolution of the Senate, of the 1st of May, 1810, on the subject of claims barred by the statute of limitations; together with an explanatory letter from the Register of the Treasury on the same subject; which were read, and ordered to lie for consideration. FRIDAY, December 14. The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion made yesterday on the subject; and Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the expediency of directing the Secretary of the Treasury to deposite for collection in other banks than that of the United States and its branches, the bonds given to the Government for duties; and that the committee have leave to report by bill or otherwise. Ordered, That Messrs. LEIB, CRAWFORD, and GOODRICH, be the committee. DECEMBER, 1810. was read, and referred to a select committee, to consist of five members, to consider and report thereon by bill or otherwise; and Messrs. Dana, TAIT, GAILLARD, HORSEY, and GILES, were appointed the committee. THE MILITIA. The PRESIDENT communicated the report of the Secretary for the Department of War, made in obedience to the resolution of the Senate of April 7,1810, directing him to prepare a system of reguof the United States; which was read, and referlations for improving the discipline of the militia red to Messrs. LEIB, REED, SMITH of Maryland, ANDERSON, and GILMAN, the committee to whom was referred, on the 11th instant, so much of the Message of the President of the United States as relates to the organization and discipline of the militia, with leave to report by bill or otherwise. The report is as follows: WAR DEPARTMENT, December 13, 1810. SIR: In obedience to a resolution of the honorable the Senate, passed April 7, 1810, "directing the Secre tary of War to prepare a system of regulations for improving the discipline of the militia of the United States, comprehending the infantry, cavalry, and artillery, and to report the same to the Senate at the next session of Congress," the following regulations for the infantry, cavalry, and artillery, are herewith respectfully presented. In determining on the regulations which it may be most eligible to establish for the government of the infantry, several considerations present themselves: first, the organization of companies, battalions, and regiments, as ordained by existing laws; secondly, the proficiency already made, with the experience acquired under the present system. Were the militia to be organized at this time from the population of the United States, and regulations to be adopted for their government and discipline, without regard to their present organization and discipline, the system of organization and tactics of the French armies would claim a preference. But the adoption of this system would require an entire new organization of companies, battalions, and regiments; and it is at least doubtful whether the officers of the militia would bestow, gratuitously, the time and attention necessary for their own, and the instruction of the men under their command, in the new and additional duties thus devolving on them. The regulations prepared by the late Baron de Steuben, and ordered for the government of the troops of the United States by the Continental Congress, March 29, 1779, are acknowledged to contain the necessary instructions and directions for the discipline and government of an army, and have been the general rule of practice observed by the militia as well as the Army of the United States. It has therefore been judged expedient to continue these regulations as a basis, and to add to them such amendments and alterations as vres which make a part of more modern tactics. Should have been suggested by experience, with some manœuthis proposal be adopted, the ordinance of March, 1779, as altered and amended, will require to be reprinted. For the government of the Cavalry. The ordinance for the exercise and manœuvres of the light cavalry of Mr. GILES presented the memorial of the City the French armies having all the advantages and imCouncil of Washington, praying sundry amend-provements derived from long experience and actual ments to their charter of incorporation; which service, appears to be well calculated. In order that a judgment may be formed of its merits, a translation of the whole of that ordinance, together with a volume of plates, explanatory of the directions, is herewith transmitted. In case it shall be approved, a revision of the work, by a person conversant with military science, will be necessary, in which the terms will be rendered analogous to our language; the whole may be abbreviated, and such parts as are not applicable to light cavalry may be entirely omitted. For the Artillery." A compendious exercise for garrison and field ordnance," selected from the most approved authorities, by officers of experience, is proposed, and herewith reported for consideration. All which is respectfully submitted WILLIAM EUSTIS. PRESIDENT of the Senate, &c. JOHN CONDIT, from the State of New Jersey, and JOHN SMITH, from the State of New York, severally took their seats in the Senate. Mr. LEIB presented the petition of William Davy and Son, and others, merchants and traders of Philadelphia, stating that they are owners of a large property beyond the Cape of Good Hope, and praying exemption from the provisions of the act, entitled "An act concerning the commercial intercourse between the United States and Great Britain and France, and their dependencies, and for other purposes;" under which they are apprehensive the said property may be implicated; and the petition was read, and referred to Messrs. GILES, CRAWFORD, ANDERSON, GOODRICH, and POPE, the committee to whom was referred, on the 7th instant, so much of the Message of ths President of the United States as concerns the relations between the United States and France and Great Britain, to consider and report thereon by bill or otherwise. BANK OF THE UNITED STATES. Mr. LEIB presented the petition of the President and Directors of the Bank of the United States, praying a renewal of their charter, for reasons therein stated; and the petition was read, and referred to a select committee, to consist of five members, to consider and report thereon; and that the petition be printed for the use of the Senate. Messrs. CRAWFORD, LEIB, LLOYD, POFE, and ANDERSON, were appointed the committee. The memorial is as follows: SENATE. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, the memorial of the Stockholders of the Bank of the United States, respectfully showeth : That, by an act of Congress, passed on the 25th of February, 1791, the subscribers to the capital stock of the Bank of the United States, their successors and assigns, were incorporated for a term of years, which will expire on the 4th day of March next. Aware of the evils which must result from the sudden termination of the operations of an institution, intimately and extensively connected with the commercial interests of the nation, with the public credit, and the fiscal concerns of the Government, your memorialists submitted to the tenth Congress, an application for the extension of their charter. The wisdom of Congress having, hitherto, declined a decision upon the subject, it becomes the duty of your memorialists again to submit to the legislative consideration, and to repeat their prayer, that the charter of incorporation under which they have hitherto existed, may be renewed. Had your memorialists consulted merely their own which the success of their application has since that convenience and security, under the uncertainty in time remained, prudence would have required them gradually to call in their funds, as a measure of precaution, in case of a dissolution. But, considerations of public utility, which have always influenced the conduct of this institution, and a belief that the genoral interest required, and would, therefore, obtain a continuance of its incorporation, have postponed the adoption of a measure, in whatever manner effected, productive, as they apprehend, of great public as well as private distress. it unnecessary for your memorialists to detail the genThe superior information of the Legislature renders eral benefits of banking institutions. The experience and the practice of all nations, in modern times, sufficiently prove their utility to trade, their aid in the management of the national revenues, and their necessity in times of public emergency and general calamity. In no country have these benefits been more forcibly exemplified, or more fully experienced, than in the United States. The truth of this remark, is obvious in the amount of the productive capital of the country, above the quantity of the precious metals, in the rapid advancement of agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, the solidity of private as well as public credit, the ease with which the moneyed operations of the Government, of societies, and of individuals, to an wealth, and the general prosperity of the nation. It is immense amount are carried on; the accumulation of not intended to suggest, that the creation of banks has, of itself, produced these effects; the activity, the energy, and enterprise of the people, under the protection of a wise and able Government, have co-operated in their production; but, without the augmentation of the active capital of the country, and the other facilities to energy, and enterprise, would have but feebly operated. business produced by banking institutions, that activity, That the public opinion, the correct arbiter of the public interest, coincides with that of your memorialists, is evidenced by the institution and increase of banks in every State of the Union. In producing these beneficial effects, your memori. alists reflect with pleasure, that the Bank of the United States has contributed in an eminent degree. Its early institution, its extensive and combined operations, and the weight of its capital, at the same time that they afforded it the opportunity of being acquainted with the trading interests of the Union, gave it, also, the means of essentially advancing them, while its disposition to do so has always kept pace with its ability. Not restricted to any particular district, it has acted as the general guardian of commercial credit, and by preventing the balance of trade in the different States from producing a deficiency of money in any, has obviated the mischiefs which would have been thereby produced. It has fostered and protected the banking institutions of the States, and has aided them, when unexpectedly pressed; its disposition towards them is manifested in the quantum of its capital, of which they have generally had the use, not much less in amount than one tenth of the whole. In its accommodations to individuals it has been liberal, but, at the same time, discreet, with a view as well to their safety as its own. By means of it, the merchant and the manufacturer have been enabled to push their operations to an extent far exceeding what would have been practicable without it; judicious and prudent enterprise has been encouraged, rash and prodigal adventure has been discountenanced, and a sufficient fund being provided, from which reasonable loans could be obtained, usury has been prevented, and usurious lenders repressed. Its importance in the administration of the finances, and its utility in the operations connected with the public credit have been fully established. It has afforded a place of deposite for the public moneys, without expense, and without hazard to the Government. It has aided in the collection of the revenue, by introducing a punctuality in the payment of duties, otherwise unattainable, and by accommodating with loans those who had such payments to make; thereby assuming upon itself the risk, which otherwise had been borne by the Government. It has, at all times, upon its own responsibility, and at its own expense, transmitted the public moneys from one part of the Union to another, so as to meet the exigencies of the Government, and, from the surplus revenue of one place, to supply the deficiency of another. By this means the Government has always been enabled, with convenience, to pay the interest on the public debt, and to meet its other demands, at such places as its engagements required; an operation which, without such an aid, would have been productive of trouble, hazard, and expense to the Government, and would still have been liable to disappointment. It has, by its loans, enabled the Government to comply punctually with its engagements, when deficiencies or delays have occurred in the revenue, and has thus enabled it to maintain inviolate the public faith and credit, both at home and abroad. There have been periods when the nation found it necessary to borrow largely from this institution, and, at one time, had upon loan considerably more than three-fourth parts of its active capital. It has, for the accommodation of the Government, established branches at places disadvantageous to its business, and from which no profit was expected to be derived. Most of these operations have been attended with inconvenience, and with expense to the bank, but they have always been performed with alacrity and cheerfulness. While your memorialists thus recount the aids they have afforded, they feel no disposition to forget the ad DECEMBER, 1810. vantages they have received from the Government in return. The support which it has given to the bank, and the confidence which it has reposed in it, founded upon a knowledge of its management and condition, have conferred upon it a stability, a dignity, and a splendor, which have preserved its credit from suspicion, and have secured to it the confidence of Europe, as well as America. Thus, mutually aiding and aided by the Government, has the Bank of the United States, for twenty years, continued its operations, and during that time, has obtained the general acknowledgment that its af fairs have been conducted with honor and dignity, with impartiality and candor, with liberality and prudence. To the original motives for the institution of this bank, the success of experiment is now added, and with the existing proofs of its uses and its services, every consideration of policy and of justice, urge its continuance. Independent of the positive evils its dissolution would produce to the community, the Government would at least be deprived of those advantages it has hitherto derived from its existence, unless they could be supplied from some other quarter, either by the banks established by the several States, or by a bank upon a foundation altogether new. As to the State banks, your memorialists are fully sensible of the benefits resulting from their establishment, and of their sufficiency for the purposes of their institution, the local accommodation of the places in which they exist. But their capitals are by no means adequate to the demands of the General Government, in a time of emergency; a time when the ordinary claims of their own State Governments, and of their own particular customers, would be increased and entitled to preference. Neither could the transmission of the public moneys, from one quarter of the Union to another, be effected with sufficient ease and dispatch, or to the requisite extent, by banks of limited capital, having no connexion with, nor direction over, each other. Nor would it be prudent in the Government, to trust the deposite of its funds, to the extent to which they sometimes exist in a variety of institutions, united by no common bond, and in no degree responsible for each other; over whose conduct the General Government could have no control, into whose management and condition it could not legally inquire, and which those institutions, even if disposed, could not legally communicate. Independent of the hazard to which the public moneys might be subjected by mismanagement, a power would be placed in hands, which, from want of responsibility, and want of control, might be used to injurious purposes. In addition, the dignity of the Government seems to require, its fiscal. operations to be conducted through the medium of an institution organized by itself, of whose ability to answer all the purposes of revenue and public credit, no doubt can exist; of whose situation and proceedings a competent knowledge can be had; over whose conduct a sufficient degree of control to prevent wilful misconduct should exist, and upon whose disposition to assist the Government in times of exigency, reliance may be confidently placed. Such an institution is the Bank of the United States, and such it will remain, if continued in its present form. The amount of its capital gives it sufficient power; its situation is periodically communicated to the Treasury Department: over its proceedings the Government possesses a powerful control, by the extent of its deposites of its disposition to yield every legitimate assistance to the Government, it has given the strongest evidences, and to insure the continuance of this disposition, its interest and its duty combine. If a National Bank be thus conducive to the interests of the community, and of importance to the Government, no obvious motive suggests itself to your memorialists against the continuance of the present bank. At any time, and especially at the present, when so large a portion of American property remains unproductive in Europe, so great a reduction in the amount of the active capital of the country as the dissolution of the bank would occasion, must be attended with great and general injury, from the depreciation in value of property, the stagnation of business, and the check to commercial enterprise, which would result from it. And in stopping the operations of such an engine, one of two consequences must be produced, either that in discharging the debts due to the bank, great sacrifices must be made, and every resource of the merchant drained, or, in the failure to pay them, an irreparable blow must be given to commercial credit and punctuality. SENATE. laws heretofore passed, and now in force in the Territory of Orleans, shall be deemed, and are hereby declared, to extend to and to have full force and effect in the territory described in the first section of this act. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That for the purpose of more conveniently ascertaining the titles and claims to land within the territory described in the first section of this act, the same shall be formed into one district of the Territory of Orleans; and the President is hereby authorized and required to nominate, and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint one register of land titles, who shall perform the duties, receive the same compensation for his services, and be subject, in all respects, to the same regulations and provisions, as are by law prescribed to the registers of the other districts of the Territory of Orleans. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the commissioners heretofore appointed, in virtue of the fifth section of the act, entitled "An act for ascertaining and adjusting titles and claims to land within the Territory of Orleans, and the District of Louisiana," Nor is it easy to calculate the effects, which the de- shall meet within the aforesaid Territory, at such place struction of the bank would produce in the loss it as the President shall have directed therein for the would occasion to the public revenue, to charitable in-residence of the register, on or before the day of stitutions, widows, children, and others, interested in and they shall not adjourn to any other place, the stock; from the pressure to which the other banks nor for a longer time than three days, until the must be inevitably subjected, from the want of confi- day of, and until they shall have completed the dence it would create in the stability of our institutions, business of their appointment: and it shall be their and from the general derangement of credit. duty to decide, in a summary way, according to justUnder these views and impressions, your memori-ice and equity, upon all claims filed with the register, alists solicit the renewal of their charter; and upon the wisdom and justice of the Legislature, and its regard for the rights and interests of its citizens, they rely for its concession. Signed on behalf of the stockholders. conformably, in all respects, to the provisions now in force and observed in the Territory of Orleans; which decisions shall be laid before Congress in the same manner, as is now done in the other districts of the Territory of Orleans, and be subject to the determination of Congress thereupon." WEDNESDAY, December 19. CHRISTOPHER GRANT CHAMPLIN, from the State of Rhode Island, took his seat in the Senate. TERRITORY OF ORLEANS. Mr. GILES, from the committee to whom was referred, on the 8th instant, so much of the MesThe bill declaring the laws now in force in the sage of the President of the United States as re- Territory of Orleans, to extend to and to have lates to the occupation of that part of West Flor- full force and effect to the river Perdido, pursuida which is included within the boundaries de-ant to the treaty concluded at Paris on the 30th scribed by the treaty for the acquisition of Loui- day of April, 1803, and for other purposes, was siana, reported a bill declaring the laws now in read the second time. force in the Territory of Orleans, to extend to and to have full force and effect to the river Perdido, pursuant to the treaty concluded at Paris on the 30th day of April, 1803, and for other purposes; and the bill was read, and passed to the second reading. The following is the bill: Mr. DANA submitted the following motion for consideration: into the expedience of authorizing such surveys and Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire examinations to be made respecting the lakes or wa ters, along the northern confines of the United States, as may conduce to the safety and convenience of com"That the Territory of Orleans, as described by an munication thereon; and that the committee have act, passed the twenty-sixth day of March, one thou-leave to report by bill or otherwise. sand eight hundred and four, entitled "An act erecting Louisiana into two Territories, and providing for the temporary government thereof," shall be deemed, and is hereby declared, to extend to the river Perdido; and to include all that territory south of the Mississippi Territory, and eastward of the river Mississippi, to the said river Perdido, according to the provisions of the treaty concluded at Paris, between the United States and France, on the thirtieth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and three. "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That all the THURSDAY, December 20. The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion made yesterday on the subject; and Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the expedience of authorizing such surveys and examinations to be made respecting the lakes or waters along the Northern confines of the United States, as may conduce to the safety and convenience of communication thereon; |