an act for the relief of John T. Ross, and Daniel T. Patterson, and the officers and men lately under their command; and no amendment having been agreed to, the President reported the bill to the House; and On the question—"Shall this bill be engrossed and read a third time?" It was determined in the affirmative. The Senate resumed, as in committee of the whole, the consideration of the bill to repeal the second section of an act, entitled "An act concerning the pay of officers, seamen, and marines in the navy of the United States," and no amendment having been agreed to, the President reported the bill to the House; and On the question-Shall this bill be engrossed and read a third time?" It was determined in the affirmative. The Senate resumed, as in committee of the whole, the resolution for furnishing each member of Congress with a copy of the laws of the United States, passed during a preceding session. On motion by Mr. Wilson, Resolved, That it be referred to a select committee; to consider and report thereon. Ordered, That Mr. Fromentin, Mr. Wilson, and Mr. Lacock be the committee. The Senate resumed, as in committee of the whole, the consideration of the bill making appro priations for the payment of certain claims for mi litia services, to the State of Georgia, and m amendment having been agreed to, the President reported the bill to the House: And On the question-"Shall this bill be engrossed and read a third time ?” It was determined in the affirmative. The Senate resumed, as in committee of the whole, the consideration of the bill to appoint additional pension agents; and the bill having been amended, the President reported it to the House accordingly. On the question-"Shall this bill be engrossed and read a third time ?” It was determined in the affirmative. The Senate resumed, as in committee of the whole, the consideration of the bill respecting persons escaping from the service of their masters. On motion by Mr. Macon, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed to, and made the order of the day for Wednesday next. The Senato resumed, as in committee of the whole, the consideration of the bill to amend and explain "An act giving pensions to the orphans and widows of persons slain in the public or private armed vessels of the United States," and no amendment having been agreed to, the President reported the bill to the House: And On the question" Shall this bill be engrossed and read a third time ?" It was determined in the affirmative. The Senate resumed, as in committee of the whole, the consideration of the bill for the relief of the widow and children of Arnold Henry Dohrman, deceased; and no amendment having been agreed to, the President reported the bill to the House: And On the question-"Shall this bill be engrossed and read a third time?" It was determined the affirmative. Mr. Campbell submitted the following motion for consideration: Resolved, That the committee on Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of es tablishing a new district, for surveying public lands south of the State of Tennessee. The Senate resumed, as in committee of the whole, the consideration of the bill respecting the tranportation of persons of colour for sale, or to be held to labour. On motion by Mr. Horsey, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until Wednesday next. The following written message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Todd, his secretary: To the Senate and House of Representatives, of the United States: The government of Great Britain, induced by the posture of the relations with the United States which succeeded the conclusion of the recent commercial convention, issued an order on the 17th day of August, 1815, discontinuing the discrimi nating duties payable in British ports on American vessels and their cargoes. It was not until the 22d of December, following, that a corresponding discontinuance of discriminating duties on British vessels and their cargoes, in American ports, took effect, under the authority vested in the executive by the act of March, 1816. During the period between those two dates there was, consequently, a failure of reciprocity or equality in the existing regulations of the two countries. I recommend to the consideration of Congress, the expediency of paying to the British government the amount of the duties remitted, during the period in question, to citizens of the United States; subject to a deduction of the amount of whatever discriminating duties may have commenced in British ports, after the signature of that convention, and been collected previous to the 17th of Agust, 1815. JAMES MADISON. February 3d, 1817. The message was read. The following written message was also received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Todd, his secretary: To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: The envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of his most christian majesty, having renewed, under special instructions from his govern ment, the claim of the representative of Baron de Beaumarchais, for one million of livres, which were debited to him in the settlement of his accounts with the United States, I lay before Congress copies of the memoir on that subject, addressed by the said envoy to the Secretary of State. Considering that the sum of which the million of livres in question made a part, was a gratuitous grant from the French governinent to the United States, and the declaration of that government, that that part of the grant was put into the hands of M. de Beaumarchais as its agent, not as the agent of the United States, and was duly accounted for by him to the French government ;-considering, also, the concurring opinions of two attorneysgeneral of the United States, that the said debit was not legally sustainable in behalf of the United States, I recommend the case to the favourable attention of the Legislature, whose authority alone can finally decide on it. January 31, 1817. JAMES MADISON. The message and accompanying memoir were read. On motion, The Senate adjourned to 11 o'clock to-morrow morning. |