Ordered, That the committee of Claims be discharged from a further consideration of the petition of Abraham Butler, and that he have leave to withdraw his petition.

Ordered, That the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims be discharged from a further consideration of the petition of William Hargrave, and that he have leave to withdraw his petition.

Ordered, That the committee of Commerce and Manufactures be discharged from a further consideration of the petition of Paul D. Luke, and that it be referred to the Secretary of the Trea

sury.

Mr. Newton, from the the committee of Commerce and Manufactures, to which was referred the petition of Henry Lee, made a report thereon, which was read. When,

Mr. Newton reported a bill for the relief of the said Henry Lee, which was read the first and second time, and committed to a committee of the whole House on Monday next.

Mr. Lowndes, from the committee of Ways and Means, reported a bill authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to cause payment to be made of certain alien duties; which was read the first and second time, and committed to the committee of the whole House on the bill to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to remit certain duties.

Ár. Thomas Wilson, from the committee appointed on that part of the President's message which relates to the subject of Roads and Canals, made a detailed report, recommending the adoption of the following resolution:

Resolved, That the President of the United States be reguested to take measures for ascertaining as far as practical:e,

and report to this House, at the next and every subsequent session of Congress, such roads, canals, and improvements in water courses, as are required in a general system of inland navigation and intercourse throughout the extent of the United States and the Territories thereof, best adapted to facilitate the intercourse necessary for personal, commercial and military purposes.

Ordered, That the said report be committed to a committee of the whole House on Monday next. Mr. Parris from the committee appointed on the petition of Noah Miller, made a report, which was read. When,

Mr. Parris reported a bill for the relief of the said Noah Miller, which was read the first and second time, and committed to a committee of the whole House on Monday next.

On motion of Mr. Edwards,

Resolved, That the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims be instructed to inquire into the propriety of placing John Griffin on the pension list.

On motion of Mr. Chappell,

Resolved, That the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims be instructed to inquire into the propriety of altering the present mode of paying invalid pensions, so far as it regards those pensions which have not been demanded within a reasonable time.

On motion of Mr. Johnson, of Ky.

Resolved, That the committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing the Secretary of State to publish the laws of the United States, in any number of papers he may deem proper, not exceeding six in each State.

On motion of Mr. Goldsborough,

Resolved, That the committee of Ways and Means he instructed to inquire into the expediency of modifying the law passed on the 15th day of December, 1814, entitled, "An act to provide additional revenues for defraying the expenses of government and maintaining, the public credit, by duties on carriages and the harness used therefor," so as to provide for the annual valuation of carriages liable to the duty or tax imposed by the gaid law.

99

Mr. Atherton submitted the following resolution which was read and ordered to lie on the table.

Resolved, That the following be adopted, as an addition to the standing rules of the House:

It shall be the duty of the committee on Public Expenditures to examine whether any offices, under the laws of the United States, have become useless or unnecessary, to report from time to time on the expediency of modifying or abolishing the same; also, to examine into the pay and emoluments of all offices under the laws of the United States, and to report from time to time such a reduction or increase thereof as a just economy and the public service may require.

The following resolution was submitted by Mr. Dickens,

Resolved, That the committee of Ways and Means be instructed to report a bill to repeal so much of the acts now in force, as lays a duty on salt.

The question was taken will the House now consider this resolution.

It was determined in the negative.

The follow resolution with the preamble thereto prefixed was submitted by Mr. King,

Whereas a bill was yesterday ordered by the House of Representatives to be engrossed and read a third time this

day, appropriating one million and a half of dollars of the public money, and the United States share of the dividends in the National Bank, for twenty years, on seven millions of dollars, owned by them therein, and on which they are now paying an annual interest of three hundred and fifty thousand dollars, for constructing roads and cauals; and whereas it is desirable that some part of the public treasure, drawn from the people of the country, should, particularly in times of general distress, be applied to their relief, and to objects connected with their immediate, best, and highest interest: Therefore,

Resolved, That there shall be appropriated out of any money in the Treasury of the United States, not otherwise appropriated, two millions of dollars, to be apportiored among the several States, Territories, and District of Columbia, in proportion to their free population, at the last enumeration; one million thereof to be immediately applied by the governors of the several States and Territories, and in the District of Columbia, by the several corporations of Washington, Alexandria, and Georgetown, to the support of the poor, and in aid of the funds of such humane and charitable institutions, as, in the opinion of such governors, and corporations, may stand most in need thereof; the other million of dollars to be applied by the legislatures of the several States and Territories, and in the District of Columbia, by the Congress of the United States, to the promotion of education, and the advancement of religion and morality; or in aid of the funds of such Bible and Missionary Societies as may be selected. And that the committee of Ways and Means be instructed to bring in a bill for the above purposes.

The question was taken, will the House now consider this resolution,

And determined in the negative.

The bill from the Senate, entitled "An act directing the discharge of Oliver Olmsted from imprisonment," was read the third time and passed.

Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith.

An engrossed bill entitled," An act for the relief of Park Holland," was read the third time and passed.

Ordered, That the title be as aforesaid, and. that the Clerk carry the said bill to the Senate and ask their concurrence therein.

An engrossed bill entitled, "An act to set apart and pledge as a permanent fund for internal improvement the bonus of the National Bank, and the United States' share of its dividends," was read the third time,

And on the question-" Shall this bill pass?" Yeas..........86

It passed in the affirmative,} Nays..........84

The yeas and nays being required by one fifth of the members present,

Those who voted in the affirmative, are