which were read, and the resolutions therein contained, were concurred in by the House, as follows: Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioners ought not to be granted. Mr. Nelson also made an unfavourable report on the petition of Daniel Coit, which was read and ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Nelson also reported a bill, providing an additional compensation to the circuit judge of the sixth circuit of the United States, which was read the first and second time and committed to a committee of the whole, to-morrow. Ordered, That the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims, be discharged from a further consideration of the petition of doctor James Spaulding, and that it be referred to the Secretary of War. Mr. Speed, from the joint committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined an enrolled bill, entitled "An act to allow the benefit of drawback on merchandize transported by land from Bristol to Boston and from Boston to Bristol, in like man ner as if the same were transported coastwise," and had found the same to be truly enrolled; when, Mr. Speaker signed the said bill. Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith. On motion of Mr. Poindexter, Resolved, That the committee of Commerce and Manufactures. be, and they are hereby instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a port of entry and delivery, at the town of Shieldsborough, on the bay of St. Louis, in the state of Mississippi. On motion of Mr. Bal. Smith, Resolved, That the committee on the Post Office and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post route from Kingwood, in the county of Preston, via, the Swamp, Hardin's Cove, Glade's Creek, Hunter's Fork, and Leading Creek, to Beverly, in the county of Randolph, Virginia. On motion of Mr. Storrs, - Resolved, That the Secretary of the War Department, be requested to communicate to this House, a statement of the cases in which counsel has been employed to assist the judge advocates of the army of the United States, since the first day of August, 1812; the names of the counsel so employed, the compensations paid to them respectively, and the fund out of which the same have been paid; and the expenses of the several courts martial which have been held since that time, for the trial of officers of the army. A motion was made by Mr. Rich, that the committee of the whole, to which is committed the bill to amend the act, entitled "An act respecting fugitives from justice, and persons escaping from the service of their masters," be discharged from the further consideration thereof, and that it be committed to the committee of the whole; to which is committed the bill supplementary to the act, to prohibit the importation of slaves within the jurisdiction of the United States, passed 2d March, 1807; and the question being taken thereon; It passed in the negative. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Cutts, their Secretary. Mr. Speaker-The Senate have passed the bill, entitled "An act making provision for the establishment of additional land offices in the territory of Missouri," with amendments; and they have passed bills of the following titles: An act directing the manner of appointing Indian agents, and continuing the "Act for establishing trading houses with the Indian tribes." An act concerning the district of Brunswick, in the state of Georgia. An act to incorporate the Mechanic Relief Society of Alexandria; and, An act for the relief of Isaac Briggs. In which amendments and bills, they ask the concurrence of this House: And then he withdrew. The House then again resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the bill to amend the act, entitled "An act respecting fu gitives from justice, and persons escaping from the service of their masters;" and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Hugh Nelson reported the same with amendments. And then the House adjourned. THURSDAY, January 29, 1818. Mr. Holmes, of Massachusetts, presented a petition of Daniel Granger, collector of the customs for the district of Saco, in the state of Massachusetts, praying for an increase of his compensation. Mr. Harrison presented a petition of John Whistler, late a major by brevet, in the army of the United States, stating, that in obedience to the order of his superior officer, he transmitted by one of his sergeants the sum of three hundred dollars to one of his subalterns, and, that the said sergeant deserted with the money, and praying to be allowed the same in the settlement of his accounts. Mr. Pleasants presented a petition of Nathaniel Childers, late a principal forage master in the army of the United States, praying for a reimbursement of moneys advanced by him for the public service. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee of Claims. Mr. Mason, of Massachusetts, presented a petition of John Brown, praying for a pension. Mr. Baldwin presented a petition cf Abdiel M Clure, praying compensation for his services as an officer in the revolutionary army, and for a reimbursement of moneys advanced by him for the use of the company to which he was attached. Mr. Baldwin also presented a petition of James and Robert Blaine, executors of the last will and testament of their father, Ephraim Blaine, deceased, a deputy commissary general, and commissary general of purchases in the revolutionary army, praying compensation for the services of their said father, and for a reimbursement of the moneys advanced by him for the purchase of various supplies for the said army. Mr. Ingham presented a petition of John Staples, praying compensation for his services as an officer in the revolutionary army. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims. Mr. Sergeant presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of Philadelphia, praying that no additional duty may be imposed on bar, cast, and pig iron, imported into the United States. Mr. Smith, of Maryland, presented a petition of the manufac turers of alum and copperas, on the river Magothy, in the state of Maryland, praying that additional duties may be imposed on those articles imported into the United States. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee of Commerce and Manufactures. Mr. Baldwin presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of Elizabeth town, in the county of Alleghany, and state of Pennsylvania, praying for the establishment of a post route. Mr. Ervin, of South Carolina, presented a petition of John McLean, post master at Marion court house, in South Carolina, praying for additional compensation. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. Mr. Sergeant presented a petition of John D. Carter, stating that he emigrated from Great Britain to the United States, in the year 1812, for the purpose of becoming a citizen thereof, and that upon his arrival, his property was seized, condemned, and sold, under the acts prohibiting the importation of British goods; and praying that the amount thereof may be returned to him. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee of Ways and Means. Mr. Sergeant also presented a petition of the Pennsylvania society for promoting the abolition of slavery, praying that such amendments may be made to the act of 1793, entitled "An act respecting fugitives from justice, and persons escaping from the service of their masters," as will more effectually secure the rights of people of color, who are free, or entitled to freedom; which was read and ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Baldwin presented a petition of Joseph Penticost, on behalf of himself and the other heirs of Dorsey Penticost, deceased, stating their title to a large quantity of land lying in the territory of Illinois, of which the United States have taken possession and sold a considerable part thereof; and praying that other public lands may be granted to them in licu thereof. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee on Private Land Claims. On motion of Mr. Poindexter, Ordered, That the petitions of the undermentioned persons heretofore presented, be also referred to the committee on Private Land Claims, viz: Josiah H. M.Comas, presented on the 27th October, 1814. Abraham M. Scott and others, presented on the 21st of November, 1814, and 2d January, 1816. David Burney, presented on the 1st March, 1815. Jeremiah Hunt and others, presented on the 6th January, 1817. Ordered, That the petition of Camillus Griffith, presented on the 7th of February, 1817, be referred to the committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Williams, of North Carolina, from the committee of Claims, made an unfavorable report on the petitions of Joseph Cutts, which was read and ordered to lie on the table. Ordered, That the committee of Commerce and Manufactures, be discharged from a further consideration of the petition of Lewis de Carpentier, and that leave be given to withdraw the same. A motion was made by Mr. M.Coy, that the House do reconsider their vote of yesterday, concurring in the report of the committee of Claims, on the petition of Zachariah M Girt. And the question being taken thereon; It passed in the affirmative. Ordered, That the said report and petition be recommitted to the committee of Claims, with instructions to examine the validity of the evidence upon which the claim is founded. The Speaker laid before the House, a report of the Secretary of the Navy on the petition of Samuel B. Brook, which was read and referred to the committee on Naval Affairs. An engrossed bill, entitled "An act for the relief of Israel Smith," 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. The amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act making provision for the establishment of additional land offices in the territory of Missouri," were read and referred to the committee on the Public Lands. The bill from the Senate, entitled "An act, directing the manner of appointing Indian agents, and continuing the "Act for esta trading houses with the Indian tribes," was read the first and second time, and referred to the committee appointed on so much of the President's message as relates to Indian Affairs. The bill from the Senate, entitled "An act concerning the district of Brunswick, in the state of Georgia," was read the first and second time, and referred to the committee of Commerce and Manufactures. The bill from the Senate, entitled "An act to incorporote the Mechanic Relief Society of Alexandria," was read the first and second time and referred to the committee on the District of Columbia. The bill from the Senate, entitled "An act for the relief of Isaac Briggs," was read the first and second time, and referred to the committee on the Public Lands. A message in writing, was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Joseph Jones Monroe, his Secretary, which he delivered in at the Speaker's table. Mr. J. J. Monroe also notified the House, that the President did this day approve and sign, an enrolled bill, entitled "An act making further provision for repairing the public buildings.” Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith. The House proceeded to consider the amendments reported by the committee of the whole to the bill to amend an act, entitled "An act respecting fugitives from justice, and persons escaping from the service of their masters;" and the said amendments being read; Mr. Rich moved the following resolution: Resolved, That the said bill be referred to the committee to whom was referred the memorial of the annual meeting of the society of Friends, of Baltimore, with instructions to inquire into the expediency of so amending the said bill as to guard more effectually against infringements of the rights of free negroes, and other persons of color. And on the question to agree to the said resolution; It was determined in the negative. The said amendments of the committee of the whole, were then amended and concurred in by the House as amended. time? The said bill was then further amended. And on the question, shall it be engrossed and read a third It passed in the affirmative. .....86, {Nays The yeas and nays being required by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative, are |