bills committed to the said committee of the whole House; and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Jackson reported the said bill to provide for the redemption of the public debt; also, the bill respecting the assessment and collection of the direct tax; the bill authorizing the deposit of the papers of foreign vessels with the consuls of their respective nations; the bill to repeal so much of any acts now in force, as authorizes a loan of money, or an issue of Treasury notes; the bill from the Senate to provide for the prompt settlement of public accounts; and the bill authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to pay to the State of Georgia, fifteen per cent. upon the quota of direct tax for the year 1816, assumed and paid by that State, with amendments to each, except the latter, and asked leave for the committee of the whole House to sit again on the residue of the order.

Ordered, That the said committee of the whole House have leave to sit again.

A message from the Senate by Mr. Cutts, their Secretary;

Mr. Speaker-The Senate have passed bills from this House of the following titles, viz. “An act 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," passed the 9th of April, 1816; and "An act freeing from postage all letters and packets to and from James Madison,' with amendments to the former, in which they ask the concurrence of this House. The Senate concur in the resolution for the appointment of a joint committee to examine and report what business is pending before Congress, and what it is

99.

indispensable to act upon previous to their adjourn

ment

The House proceeded to consider the amendments reported by the committee of the whole House to the bill to provide for the redemption of the public debt, which being read, were concurred in by the House.

Mr Johnson, of Va. moved further to amend the said bill by striking out from the third section the following words: "which shall be considered as an advance to that amount. on the appropriation of ten millions, payable in the next year;" and in lieu thereof, to insert as follows: "which together with the nine millions of dollars herein appropriated, if necessary, shall be considered as an advance to the amount on the appropriation of ten millions payable in the three succeeding years."

And the question being taken to agree to the

said amendment.

It was determined in the negative.

Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed and read a third time to-morrow.

The amendments reported by the committee of the whole House to the bill to repeal so much of any acts now in force, as authorizes a loan of money or an issue of Treasury notes, was read and disagreed to by the House.

Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed and read a third time to-morrow.

The amendments reported by the committee of the whole House to the bill respecting the assess ment and collection of the direct tax, were read and concurred in by the House.

Ordered. That the said bill be engrossed and read a third time to-morrow.

The amendments reported by the committee of the whole House to the bill authorizing the deposit

of the papers of foreign vessels with the consuls of their respective nations, were read and concurred in by the House.

Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed and read a third time to-morrow

Ordered, That the bill to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to pay to the State of Georgia, fifteen per centum upon the quota of direct tax for the year 1816, assumed and paid by that State, be engrossed and read a third time to-morrow.

The House proceeded to consider the amendments reported by the committee of the whole House to the bill from the Senate entitled, “An act to provide for the prompt settlement of the public accounts;" and amendments made by the committee of the whole House to the amendments reported by the select committee, were read and concurred in.

The question was then taken to agree to all the said amendments reported by the select committee as amended, except so much thereof, as is contained in the 13th section of the same.

And passed in the affirmative.

The question was then stated to agree to the said 13th section.

And debate arising thereon,

The House adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, February 26, 1817.

Mr. Tallmadge presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of the towns of Enfield and East Windsor, in the State of Connecticut, praying for the establishment of a post-route.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads. Mr. Condict presented a petition of Benjamin

Henry Latrobe, surveyor of the Capitol of the United States, in the city of Washington, stating the reasons of his not being able to furnish in time to the committee on Expenditures on the Public Buildings, a detailed estimate of the moneys necessary to complete the Capitol, and praying that such steps may be taken as may enable him to place his conduct, respecting the estimate submitted and the plan of the Capitol, in its true light, which petition was ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Hopkinson presented a petition of the Philadelphia Society for promoting American Manufactures, praying that such nieasures may be adopted as will enable the manufacturers within the United States to continue their operations.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee of Commerce and Manufactures.

Mr. Johnson, of Ky. presented a petition of Ferdinando Fairfax, confined in the jail of Washington county, in the District of Columbia. praying that the act limiting the time of the privilege of remaining within the bounds of the said prison may be repealed, and that such further provisions may be made for the comfort and accommodation of debtors confined in said jail as may be deemed expedient.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee for the District of Columbia.

Mr. Kilbourn presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of Champaign county, in the State of Ohio, on behalf of Absalom Clarke, praying the duties imposed on the distillery of the said Clark may be remitted, in consequence of the destruction thereof by fire, subsequent to the imposition of the said duties, which was ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Kilbourn also presented a petition of Bern

hard Steiner, a copy of that presented on the 24th instant, from the said Steiner.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee on the Public Lands.

Ordered, That Rufus Easton have leave to withdraw his petition contesting the election and return of John Scott, as the delegate in this House for the Territory of Missouri, together with the documents in support thereof.

Ordered, That the petition of Joseph Forrest, presented on the 4th day of June, 1813, be referred to the Secretary of State.

Mr Robertson, from the committee on the Public Lands, to which was referred the bill from the Senate entitled, "An act making reservation of certain public lands to supply timber for naval purposes," reported the same with amendments, which were read and concurred in by the House. Ordered, That the said amendments be engrossed, and together with the bill, read a third time to-day.

Mr. Robertson, from the same committee, to which was also referred the bill from the Senate entitled, "An act to authorize the appointment of a surveyor for the lands in the northern part of the Mississippi Territory, and the sale of certain lands therein described," reported the same with amendments, which were read and concurred in by the House.

Ordered, That the said amendments be engrossed, and together with the bill, read a third

time to-morrow.

Mr H. Nelson, from the committee on the Judiciary, to which was referred the bill from the Senate entitled, "An act in addition to the act for the more convenient taking affidavits and bail in civil causes depending in the courts of the