The question was then stated to agree to that part of Mr. Clark's amendment, going to strike out that part of the bill which repeals the tenth section of the act authorizing the payment for property lost, captured or destroyed, &c.: upon which Mr. Clark, withdrew that part of motion to amend;

And Mr. Johnson, of Ky. moved to strike out the whole of the said bill after the enacting clause, and in lieu thereof to insert as follows:

"That in all cases arising under the ninth section of an act entitled An act authorizing the payment for property lost, captured, or destroyed, by the enemy, while in the military service of the United States, and for other purposes,' the decision of the commissioner shall be revised and sanctioned

or rejected by the Secretary of the Treasury, And that in all cases arising under the remaining sections of the said act, the decisions of the.commissioner shall be revised and sanctioned or rejected by the Secretary of War; without which sanction, no money shall be drawn from the Treasury of the United States, to satisfy any such claim; and at the next session of Congress, the said Secretaries shall make report of such cases as may be embraced by said act, but which in their opinion should be provided for by law; and in all cases where the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of War, or the President of the United States, shall deem it expedient, an agent shall be appointed to examine the witnesses, that may be called upon by any claimant, and the agent shall moreover have the power to call for witnesses on the part of the United States." And then the House adjourned.

THURSDAY, January 9, 1817.

Another member, to wit: from New-York, John B. Yates, appeared and tock his seat.

Mr. Clendennin, suggesting, that through mistake on yesterday he had voted in the negative, when he intended to have voted in the affirmative, upon the question then depending, so to amend the first section of the bill, to amend the act authorizing the payment for property lost, captured, or destroyed, by the enemy, while in the military service of the United States, and for other purposes, as to strike ont that part of the same, which goes to a repeal of the ninth section of the said act, and moved that he have leave to correct the said mistake, by placing his vote in the affirmative

on that question. And the question being taken thereon. It was determined in the negative.

Mr. Hulbert, presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of the town of Lee, in Massachusetts, praying that the mails may not opened or transported on Sundays.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee appointed on the petition of the inhabitants of Southampton, in said State.

Mr. Hopkinson, presented a petition of the religious society of Friends, in Pennsylvania. NewJersey, Delaware, and the eastern shore of Maryland, praying that other and stronger provisions may be enacted to prevent the traffick in Negro slaves, from one State to another within the United States, in which traffick they allege that many persons of colour, free, or entitled to freedom at a given time, are carried into perpetual slavery.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee appointed on that part of the President's message, which relates to the African slave trade.

Mr. Irving, of N. Y. presented a petition of Robert Starr, confined in prison in the city of NewYork, praying to be released from his imprison

ment.

Mr. Hopkinson, presented a petition of the umbrella manufacturers in the city of Philadelphia, praying that specific duties may be imposed on umbrelias imported into the United States.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee of Ways and Means.

Mr. Pleasants. presented a petition, signed by Edward Cutbush, and Samuel R. Marshall, on be half of the surgeons and, surgeons mates' of the navy of the United States, praying that a determinate rank may be afixed to their situation in the navy; that their pay and emoluments may be in

creased, and that further provision may be made for those, who, having been many years afloat, may be appointed to the charge of Naval Hos pitals.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. Pickens, presented a petition of a convention of delegates from fifteen counties of the Mississippi Territory, praying that the said Territory may not be divided, but that the same may be adnitted into the Union with its present limits, as State, on an equal footing with the original States, which was ordered to be referred to a select committee.

Mr. Pickens, Mr. Hall, Mr. Henderson, Mr. Sharpe, Mr. Creighton, Mr. Yates, and Mr. Champion, were appointed the said committee.

Mr. Thomas Wilson, presented a petition of Mary White, widow of Bartholomew White, deceased, who was killed while a volunteer in the military service of the United States, during the late war with Great Britain, praying that some provision may be made for the support of herself and the six children of the deceased.

Mr. Thomas Wilson, also presented a petition of John Davis, praying to be paid for a quantity of provisions furnished to a detachment of militia in the public service, during the late war.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee of Claims.

On motion of Mr. Scott,

Ordered, That the petition of Gregory Sarpy, presented on the 19th of June, 1813, be referred to the same committee.

Mr. McLean presented a petition of Jacob Upp, praying that his title to a tract of land in the State of Indiana may be confirmed.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee on Private Land Claims.

Mr. Speaker presented a petition of Bernard, Gaines, praying for a pension.

Mr. Hendricks presented a petition of Jacob Whetzel, praying to be paid for his services as an officer in the army of the United States, between the years 1785 and 1805, as also for the services and expenditures of his father, as an officer in the revolutionary army.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committec on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims.

Mr. Robertson presented a petion of Chero & Kelf, owners and representatives of owners of the claims of the Marquis de Rouge, by Joseph S. Johnson their agent, praying that their title to a tract of land lying on the Washita river, in the State of Louisiana, may be confirmed.

Mr. Robertson also presented a petion of Joseph Gillard, by Joseph S. Johnson his agent, praying that his title to a tract of land lying on Red river, in the said State of Lousiana, may be confirmed.

Mr. Robertson presented a petition of Sundry inhabitants of Bayou Boeuf, in the parish of Rapide, and State of Louisiana, praying for the confirmation of their respective titles to land on said Bayou.

Mr. Hendricks presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of the State of Indiana, praying that a new land office may be established for the sale of the public lands, in the eastern section of said State, and that the land office at Jeffersonville may be removed to a more central situation.

Mr. Lattimore presented a petition of the Legis lature of the Mississippi territory, praying that Buch persons as have settled on the public lands