On motion of Mr. Hubbard,

Resolved, That the committee on the Post Office and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing by law, a post road from the village and town of Utica, in the county of Oneida, and state of New York, through the village of Clinton, in the town of Paris, by Chandler's Store, to the town of Augusta, in the county and state aforesaid.

On motion of Mr. Hale,

Resolved, That the committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post road from Richmond, in the state of New Hampshire, througli Swanzey, to Kecne.

On motion of Mr. New,

Resolved, That the committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post route from Louisville, in Kentucky, to Hardensburg, in the state aforesaid.

On motion of Mr. Bryan,

Resolved, That the committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post route from Lewisburg, via Williams' Store, Ransom's Bridge, and Moon's Store, to Enfield, in the county of Halifax, North Carolina.

On motion of Mr. Lawyer,

Resolved, That the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of correcting a mistake that occurred in the year 1808, in placing captain Thomas Matchin, an officer in the revolutionary army, upon the pension list, at ten dollars per month, when he ought to have been placed on the pension list at twenty dollars per month, according to the report of the then Secretary of War, and providing by law for the correction of such mistake.

On motion of Mr. Hitchcock,

Resolved, That the committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post route from Mercer, in the state of Pennsylvania, to Brookfield, in the county of Trumbull, and state of Ohio, and also, from Warren, in said county, of Trumbull, by Newton, to Canton, in the county of Starke.

The House again resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the report of the committee on that part of the President's message which relates to Roads, Canals, and Seminaries of Learning; and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Smith, of Maryland, reported that the committee had gone through the said report, and directed him to report their agreement to the resolution therein contained, with an amendment to strike out all of the said resolution after the word Resolved, and to insert, in lieu thereof, the following, to wit:

1. That Congress has power, under the Constitution, to appropriate money for the construction of post roads, military, and other roads, and of canals, and for the improvement of water

courses.

2. Resolved, That Congress has power, under the Constitution, to construct post roads, and military roads: Provided, That private property be not taken for the public use, without just compensation.

3. Resolved, That Congress has power, under the Constitution, to construct roads and canals, necessary for commerce between the states: Provided, That private property be not taken for public purposes, without just compensation.

4. Resolved, That Congress has power, under the Constitution, to construct canals for military purposes: Provided, That no private property be taken for any such purpose, without just compensation being made therefor.

Mr. Smith also reported, that he was instructed to ask leave for the committee of the whole to sit again, on the residue of the order committed to them.

Ordered, That the committee of the whole have leave to sit again on the residue of the said order.

And then the House adjourned.

SATURDAY, March 14, 1818.

Ordered, That Mr. Fuller have leave of absence from the service of this House, from Tuesday next, for the remainder of the session.

Mr. Butler presented a petition of Richard Green, praying for a pension.

Mr. Mercer presented a petition of Margaret Moore, widow of Cleon Moore, deceased, a captain in the revolutionary army, praying that the pension granted to her said husband, may be continued to her, and her children.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims.

Mr. Mason, of Massachusetts, presented a petition of sundry merchants and manufacturers, in Boston, and its vicinity, praying that no additional duties may be imposed on iron imported into the United States.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee of the whole, on the bill to increase the duties on iron in bolts and bars, iron in pigs, castings, nails, and alum, and to disallow the drawback of duties on the re-exportation of gunpowder.

Mr. Mills presented a petition of the Massachusetts' Bay Canal Compay, by W. Tudor, Jun. their agent, praying that the aid and patronage of the general government may be extended to them, in

such way as to secure the execution of their undertaking, in such way as may be most extensively useful, to the community in general.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee on that part of the President's message which relates to Roads, Canals, and Seminaries of Learning.

Mr. Orr presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of Bedford, in the state of New Hampshire, 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.

On motion of Mr. Mercer,

Ordered, That the petition of Edwin C. Brown, presented on the 8th of November, 1814, be referred to the committee of Claims.

Mr. Herbert presented a petition of the Directors of the Eastern Branch Bridge Company, praying that permission may not be granted to build another bridge over the Eastern Branch, within the limits of the city of Washington.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee of the whole, on the bill to incorporate a company to build a bridge over the Eastern Branch of Potomac, from the southern termination of Eleventh street, east, in the city of Washington.

Mr. Lowndes presented a petition of David Gelston, on behalf of himself and Peter A. Schenck, praying to be indemnified against a judgment recovered against them for the seizure of the ship American Eagle, for an alleged breach of the laws of the United States, under direction from the Secretary of the Treasury.

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

Mr. Pope presented a petition of Michael Jones, praying for additional compensation for services rendered by him, as a land commissioner, in the territory of Illinois.

Mr. Pope also presented a petition, in the French language, of sundry inhabitants of the Bay Verte, in the territory of Illinois, upon the subject of their land titles.

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

Ordered, That the committee of Claims be discharged from a consideration of the petition of Eli Hart, and that he have leave to withdraw the same.

Mr. Rhea, from the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims, made reports on the petitions of Peter Helphenstine, and others, John Ager and others, Samuel Doutlet, and of Joseph Little; which were read, and the resolutions therein contained were concurred in by the House, as follows:

Resolved, That the prayer of the respective petitions of Peter Helphenstine and others, John Ager and others, and Samuel Douthet, ought not to be granted; that the prayer of the petition of Jo

seph Little, in respect to his claim for ten months' pay, ought not to be granted; and that Samuel Douthet and Joseph Little, have leave to withdraw the papers accompanying their petitions.

Mr. T. M. Nelson, from the committee an Military Affairs, made reports on the petitions of John Whiting, and Patrick H. Maddin, which were read, and the resolutions therein contained were concurred in by the House, as follows:

Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioners, respectively, ought not to be granted.

Mr. Forney, from the same committee, reported a bill for the relief of the heirs of Adolphus Burghart, deceased, which was read the first and second time and committed to a committee of the whole, on the bill for the relief of William Barton.

Ordered, That the committee on Military Affairs, be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of sundry inhabitants of Lebanon county, in the state of Pennsylvania, and that it be referred to the Secretary of War; as also, from the resolution in behalf of Catharine Low, and that it be referred to the committee of the whole, on the bill to extend, for the further term of five years, the pensions heretofore granted to the widows and orphans of the officers and soldiers who died, or were killed, in the late war.

Mr. Tucker, from the committee on that part of the President's message which relates to Roads, Canals, and Seminaries of Learning, reported a bill making further approprations for the construction of the Cumberland, road, which was read the first and second time and committed to the committee of the whole, on the bill making appropriations for the support of government, during the year

1818.

The Speaker laid before the House, a letter from Richard Bland Lee, Commissioner of Claims, transmitting a report of the facts in the case of Nathan Ford, with the evidence accompanying it, which was referred to the committee of Claims.

The Speaker also laid before the House, a report of the Secretary of War on the petition of Brintnel Robbins, which was read and ordered to lie on the table.

The Speaker also laid before the House, a report of the Secretary of the Navy on the petition of Frederick Earnest, and Frederick Williamson, which was read, and also ordered to lie on the table.

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

Mr. Speakon The Senate have appointed Mr. Noble, of the committee on Enrolled Bills, on their part, in place of Mr. Wilson. who is absent. They have passed bills of the following titles, viz: "An act respecting the transportation of persons of color, for saic, or to be held in labor;" and, "An act to extend the jurisdiction of the circuit courts of the United States, to cases arising under the law relating to patents;" and, a resolution directing the distribution of the laws, of the 14th Congress, among the members of the

15th Congress:" In which bills and resolution, they ask the concurrence of this House.

And then he withdrew.

The first mentioned bill was read the first and second time and committed to a committee of the whole, on Monday next.

The last mentioned bill was read the first and second time and referred to the committee on the Judiciary.

The resolution aforesaid was read the first and second time and referred to the committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. Claiborne, from the committee appointed to present to the President of the United States a resolution relative to the expenses incurred under the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th articles of the treaty of Ghent, reported, that the committee had performed that service, and that the President answered, that he would atttend to the request contained in the said resolution.

On motion of Mr. Poindexter,

Resolved, That the committee on Roads, Canals, and Seminaries of Learning, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of appropriating a reasonable sum, out of the proceeds of the sales of the public lands, in the state of Mississippi, to the opening and improving the navigation of Pearl river, in said state, to be expended under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury.

On motion of Mr. Hendricks,

Resolved, That the committee on the Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing John Seybold to transfer to any other purchases of land he may make, or may have made in the district of Vincennes, the moneys he has paid on a mistaken entry of one quarter section of land, in said district, and that his documents, herewith presented, be referred to the same committee.

On motion of Mr. Moore,

Resolved. That the committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of altering the post road from Beavertown, in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, to Greersburg, in said county, so as to pass through the village of Brighton.

The Speaker laid before the House, a letter from the First Comptroller of the Treasury, transmitting a list of balances on the books of the Fouth Auditor, of the Treasury, which appear to have been due more than three years, prior to the 30th September last, or to have remained unsettled on that day, which was ordered to lie on the table.

The House proceeded to consider the report of the committee of the whole on the report of the committee on that part of the President's message which relates to Roads, Canals, and Seminaries of Learning, and the question was stated to concur with the committee of the whole, in their first amendment to the resolution contained