United States, by Mr. J. J. Monroe, his Secretary, which was read, and is as follows. To the House of Representatives: In compliance, with a resolution of the House of Representatives, of the 11th of this month, requesting to be informed of the present strength of the army of the United States, its distribution among the several military posts, which it is designed to protect, and its competency to preserve, and defend the fortifications, amongst which it is distributed, and to aid in constructing such other military works, if any, as it may be deemed proper to erect, for the more effectual security of the United States, and of the ter ritories thereof; I now transmit a report from the Secretary of War, which contains the information desired. December 22d 1817. JAMES MONROE. Ordered, That the said message lie on the table. On motion of Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, Resolved, That the committee of Commerce and Manufactures be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law, for the clothing of the army and navy exclusively, in the manufactures of the United States. On motion of Mr. McCoy, Resolved, That the committee on the Public Lands, inquire into the expediency of increasing the price, at which the said lands shall be sold hereafter. On motion of Mr. Bassett, Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy be required to communicate the measures taken, if any, to give effect to the act of Congress, passed on the twenty-sixth of February, one thousand eight hundred and eleven, for the establishment of navy hospitals; if nothing has been done to show the cause why the statute has been neglected, and whether it be necessary to repeal the same. On motion of Mr. Porter, Resolved, That the committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency, of increasing by law, the compensation of the marshal, of the northern district of the state of New York. On motion of Mr. Quarles, Resolved, That the committee on the Post Office and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post road, from Columbia in the state of Kentucky, to the Hazlepatch; and also, the expediency of establishing a post road, from Monticello, in Kentucky, to Columbia. On motion of Mr. Hale, Resolved, That the committee on Post Offices and Post Roads be instructd to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post road from Walpole, in the state of New Hampshire, through Al stead to Ackworth. On motion of Mr. Bassett, Resolved, That the committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire, whether moneys deposited from time to time, by orders of the district courts of the United States, of New York, have been faithfully applied, and that the said committee be invested with power, to send for persons and papers. The House again resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the bill to provide for certain surviving officers and soldiers, of the revolutionary army; and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Hugh Nelson reported, that the committee, had made further progress in the said bill, and directed him to ask leave to sit again. Ordered, That the committee of the whole have leave to sit again on the said bill. An engrossed bill, entitled "An act for the relief of Noah Miller," 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. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Cutts, their Secretary: Mr. Speaker: I am directed to inform this House, that Mr. Wilson, of the Joint committee, on Enrolled Bills, on the part of the Senate, being absent, the Senate have appointed Mr. Noble of the said committee, on their part. And then he withdrew. Mr. Wilson, of Pennsylvania, from the Joint committee, for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined an enrolled bill, entitled "An act to abolish the internal duties," and an enrolled resolution, "Directing a distribution of certain laws, among the members of the Fifteenth Congress,” also, an enrolled "Resolu tion, authorizing the distribution of certain public documents," and had found the same to be truly enrolled: when, The Speaker signed the said bill and resolutions. Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith. TUESDAY, December 23, 1817. Mr. Sergeant presented a petition of the board of managers, of the American Bible Society, praying that all letters and packets sent to, or from their president, secretaries and treasurer, on the business of the Society, may be sent free of postage, under such regulations as Congress may think proper to impose; which was order to be referred to a Select committee; and, Mr. Sergeant, Mr. Bryan, Mr. Mercer, Mr. Taylor, and Mr. Morton, were appointed the said committee. Mr. Sergeant also, presented a petition of the board of managers of the Philadelphia Bible Society, praying that the duties imposed on stereotype plates, already imported into the United States, and designed for the printing of the Holy Scripiures, may be remit. ted: that all duties incurred on the importation of the said Scriptures, printed in foreign languages for gratuitous distribution, may also be remitted, and that inspired writings in foreign languages hereafter imported, may be imported free of duty. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee last appointed. Mr. Hall, of Delaware, presented a petition of John Robertson, late a private dragoon in the army of the United States, praying to be allowed the arrearages of pay, and bounty in money; as also a grant of the land due for his services, as aforesaid, which he alledges is unjustly and illegally withheld from him by the officers of the War Department. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee of Claims. On motion of Mr. Herbert, Ordered, That the petition of Willian Dent Beall, presented on the 4th December, 1812, be referred to the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims. On motion of Mr. Herbert, Ordered, That the petition of John Darnall, presented on the 3d February, 1816, be referred to a Select committee; and, Mr. Herbert, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Hall, of Delaware, Mr. Little and Mr. Garnett, were appointed the said committee. Mr. Newton presented a petition of Hector Scott, praying to be paid the amount of a certificate of debenture, issued to him by the collector of New York, in the year 1800, on the exportation from that port, of a quantity of foreign merchandize, to the port of New Orleans. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee of Commerce and Manufactures. Mr. Hitchcock presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of Granger county, in the State of Ohio, 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. Robertson, Ordered, That the following petitions heretofore presented, be referred to the committee on Private Land Claims, viz: The petition of William Miller and others, presented on the 7th January, 1817. The petition of sundry inhabitants of Bayou Beouf, in the State of Louisiana, presented on the 9th January, 1817.. The petition of William Fisher, presented on the 16th December, 1816. 1817. The petition of Joseph Gillard, presented on the 9th January, Mr. Scott presented a petition of Joseph Hertick, for himself and the heirs of Madame Villars, and à petition of Joseph Villars, for himself and the infant son of Antoine Villars, deceased, respectfully praying for confirmations of their titles to lands in the territory of Missouri. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee on Private Land Claims. Mr. Rhea, from the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims, made an unfavorable report on the petition of Edmund Brooke; which was read and ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Rhea also, made reports on the petitions of Robert Smith and Charles Smith, which were read, and the resolutions therein contained were concurred in by the House, as follows: Resolved, That the prayer of the petition of Robert Smith, ought not to be granted. Resolved, That the prayer of the petition of Charles Smith, ought not to be granted. Mr. Robertson, of Louisiana, from the committee on the Public Lands, made a report on the petition of William M.Intosh, which was read and the resolution therein contained, was concurred in by the House, as follows: Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioner ought not to be granted, and that he have leave to withdraw his petition and papers. Mr. Robertson also made a report on the letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, concerning the islands in the rivers passing through the Public Lands, which was read, and the resolution therein contained was concurred in by the House, as follows: Resolved, That it is inexpedient in this particular, to alter the law, regulating the surveys of the Public Lands. Mr. Hugh Nelson from the committee on the Judiciary, who were instructed to inquire whether any, and if any, what legal provisions are necessary to prescribe the effect which the public acts, records and judicial proceedings of each state, shall have in the courts of every other state, made a report thereon; which was read; when, Mr. Nelson reported a bill to prescribe the effect which certain records and judicial proceedings of the courts of each state, shall have in every other state of the United States, which was read the first and second time, and committed to a committee of the whole, on Monday next. Mr. Williams, of North Carolina, from the committee of Claims, to whom was referred the report of the Secretary of State, on the petitions of Antoine Bienvenu, Peter La Coste and Jacques Villere, of Louisiana, made a report thereon, which was read and the resolution therein contained, was concurred in by the House, as follows: Resolved, That the petitioners have leave to withdraw their petitions and documents. On motion of Mr. Trimble, Resolved, That the President of the United States, be request ed, to cause to be laid before this House, any information he may be able to communicate, relative to the imprisonment and detension in confinement, of Richard Cowles Meade, a citizen of the United States. Mr. Trimble and Mr. Darlington, were appointed a committee to present the foregoing resolution to the President of the United States. On motion of Mr. Holmes, of Massachusetts, Resolved, That the committee on the Judiciary, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law, for appointing justices or conservators of the peace or other magistrates, authorized to enforce the exccution of the laws of the United States. On motion of Mr. Lewis, Resolved, That the committee on Post Office and Post Roads, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post road, from Halifax court house, to Lynchburg, both in the state of Yirginia. On motion of Mr. Herrick, Resolved, That the committee on the Judiciary, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for increasing the compensation paid to jurors and witnesses, summoned to attend the several courts of the United States. On motion of Mr. Floyd, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the expediency of extending the privilege of franking to one person in each of the states and territories of the United States, who shall be appointed by the governor or legislature thereof, for the purpose of distributing the vaccine matter, within such state or territory; and that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise; and, Mr. Floyd, Mr. Abbott and Mr. Seybert, were appointed the said committee. The House resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the bill to provide for certain surviving officers and soldiers of the revolutionary army; and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Hugh Nelson, reported the said bill with sundry amendments, which were severally read and concurred in by the House with amendments. The said bill was further amended and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time to-morrow. Mr. Spencer proposed the following joint resolution, to wit: Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the two Houses of Congress, will adjourn on the 24th day of December, instant, to meet on the 29th day of December, instant. The said resolution was read the first and second time, and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time to-day. The said resolution being engrossed, was accordingly read the third time; |