an alleged forfeiture under the nou-importation laws, as stated in the petition, which was read. On motion by Mr. Roberts, Resolved, That it be referred to a select committee to consider and report thereon, by bill or otherwise. Ordered, That Mr. Roberts, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Howell, be the committee. On motion by Mr. Morrow, Ordered, That the report of the committec appointed to inquire whether any, and if any, what, legislative measures may be necessary for admitting the State of Indiana into the Union, or for extending the laws of the United States to that State, be recommitted to the same committee, further to consider and report thereon. Mr. Barbour submitted the following motion for consideration, which was twice read by unani mons consent. Resolved, That it shall be one of the rules of the Senate that the following standing committees be appointed at each Session. A Committee on Foreign Relations. A Committee on Ways and Means. A Committee on Commerce and Manufactures. A Committee on Military Affairs. A Cominittce on the Militia. A Committee on Naval Affairs. A Committee on the Post-Office, and Post Roads. A Committee on Pensions. The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion for the appointment of a committee to inquire into the expediency of requiring the establishment of a competent office of discount and deposite within the city of Washington. On motion by Mr. Mason, of N. H. Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until next Monday week. On motion, Ordered, That the further consideration of the motions for referring the Message of the President of the United States to select committees be postponed until to-morrow. On motion, The Senate adjourned to 11 o'clock to-morrow morning. FRIDAY, DECember 6, 1816. The honourable William H. Wells, from the State of Delaware, took his seat in the Senate, who arrived on the 5th instant. The Senate resumed, as in committee of the whole, the consideration of the motion for amending the rules of the Senate, so as to appoint at each session certain standing committees, and no amendment having been agreed to, the President reported it to the House. On motion, by Mr. Mason of New-Ilampshire. Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until Monday 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 9th section of the act, passed at the last session of Congress, "to authorize the payment for property lost, captured, or destroyed by the enemy, while in the military service of the United States, and for other purposes," having received a construction giving to it a scope of great and uncertain extent, I thought it proper that proceedings relative to claims under that part of the act should be suspended, until Congress should have an opportunity of defining, more precisely, the cases contemplated by them. With that view, I now recommend the subject to their consideration. They will have an opportunity, at the same time, of considering how far other provisions of the act may be rendered more clear and precise in their import. December 6th, 1816. The message was read. JAMES MADISON. On motion by Mr. Sanford, Ordered, That the consideration of the motions of the 4th inst. for referring the message of the President of the United States to select committecs, be further postponed until Monday next. On motion by Mr. Tait, It was agreed that when the Senate adjourn it be to Monday next. Mr. Morrow, from the committee appointed to inquire whether any, and if and if any, what legislative measures may be necessary for admitting the State of Indiana into the Union, or for extending the laws of the United States to that State, to whom was recommitted their report on that subject, reported the resolution for admitting the State of Indiana into the Union, with amendments, which were read and considered as in committee of the whole ; and having been agreed to, the President reported the resolution to the House amended accordingly. On the question--" Shall this resolution be engrossed and read a third time?" It was determined in the affirmative. The said resolution having been reported by the committee correctly engrossed. On motion by Mr. Morrow, Was read a third time by unanimous consent, as follows: Whereas, in pursuance of an Act of Congress, passed on the 19th day of April, 1816, entitled "An act to enable the people of the Indiana Territory to form a Constitution and State Governmeut, and for the admission of that State into the Union." the people of the said Territory did, on the 29th day of June, in the present year, by a convention called for that purpose form for themselves a Constitution and State Government, which Constitution and State Government so formed is republican, and in conformity with the principles of the articles of compact between the original States and the people and States in the Territory north west of the river Ohio, passed on the 13th day of July, 1787: Resolved, by the Senate and House and Represenlatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the State of Indiana shall be one, and is hereby declared to be one, of the United States of America, and admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States in all respects whatever. Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives in this resolution. A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Dougherty, their Clerk: ap Mr. President-The House of Representatives concur in the resolution of the Senate for the pointment of Chaplains, and have appointed the Reverend Burgess Allison, Chaplain on their part. And he withdrew. On motion by Mr. Varnum, The Senate proceeded to the appointment of a Chaplain on their part; and on the ballots having been counted, it appeared that the Reverend John Glendy had a majority, and was elected. |