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Domestic News
February 19, 1817
Daily National Intelligencer
Washington, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
U.S. Congress proceedings reported on February 19, 1817, covering Senate actions on February 17-18 and House on February 18, including resolutions on custom houses, military reduction, public buildings, internal duties repeal, and votes on bills related to persons of color and fugitives from service.
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WASHINGTON:
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19.
CONGRESS.
IN SENATE—FEBRUARY 17.
Mr. Daggett, from the committee on the subject, reported amendments, as instructed by the Senate, to the Claims Law.
Mr. Mason, of N. H. submitted for consideration, the following resolution:
Resolved, That the committee of Finance be instructed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury, in behalf of and for the use of the United States, to purchase or cause to be erected suitable buildings for custom houses and public warehouses in such principal district in each state where, the said Secretary shall deem the same necessary, for the safe and convenient collection of the revenue of the United States.
Mr. Mason, of N. H. submitted the following:
Resolved, That the committee on Military Affairs be instructed to report to the Senate a bill to reduce the military peace establishment of the United States to the number of five thousand men, to consist of such proportions of artillery, infantry and riflemen, as the President of the United States shall deem proper, retaining the corps of engineers as at present established.
The report of the committee of claims, unfavorable to the petition of Dennis de la Ronde, was taken up and concurred in.
The bill authorizing vessels departing from the town of Bayou St. John's and basin of the Canal de Carondelet, for foreign ports, to clear out at the Custom House in the city of New Orleans, was read a second time.
The amendments of the House of Representatives to the bill authorizing the sale of a reserved square in the City of Washington, were taken up and agreed to.
The bill making appropriations for the support of government for 1817, and the bill relating to the ransom of American captives of the late war, were received from the House of Representatives, and read a first time.
The Senate resumed the bill respecting the transportation of persons of color, for sale or to be held to labor, and the bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.
The Senate resumed as in committee of the whole the consideration of the bill respecting persons escaping from the service of their masters; and a motion was made by Mr. Smith, to postpone the same indefinitely—which motion was decided as follows:
YEAS.—Messrs. Barbour, Brown, Campbell, Condit, Dana, Fromentin, Gaillard, Hardin, Macon, Mason, of Vir. Smith, Talbot, Tait, Troup, Williams.—15.
NAYS—Messrs. Ashmun, Daggett, Goldsborough, Hanson, Horsey, Howell, Hunter, Mason, of N. H. Morrow, Noble, Roberts, Ruggles, Sanford, Taylor, Thompson, Tichenor, Varnum, Wells, Wilson.—19.
The bill having been amended, was reported to the Senate. On the question to amend the bill by adding thereto the following as a new section:
And be it further enacted. That it shall and may be lawful for any constable, or any public officer, or any resident private citizen, and they or either of them are hereby authorized and empowered to seize or arrest any such negro or negroes, mulatto or mulattoes, or other person or persons of colour, and take him, her, or them, before any one of the judges or magistrates aforesaid, and upon oath being made by such constable, officer, or resident private citizen, that he hath just and reasonable grounds to believe that such negro, &c: as the case may be, hath escaped from his, her, or their owner or owners in some other of the United States or Territories, it shall then be the duty of the judge or magistrate aforesaid, and they and each of them are hereby required to commit such negro or negroes, mulatto, or other persons of colour, to the public jail of the district or county where he, she, or they shall be found and apprehended, for the space of six months, unless the owner or owners shall in a shorter time prove a right of property thereto; and it shall be the duty of the keeper of any jail to which such fugitive or fugitives shall be committed, to give public notice thereof in some public newspaper for the space of four weeks describing particularly the fugitive or fugitives so committed.
The vote was as follows:
YEAS.—Messrs. Barbour, Fromentin, Gaillard, Goldsborough, Hardin, Macon, Mason, of Va. Ruggles, Smith, Stokes, Talbot, Tait, Taylor, Troup, Williams.—15.
NAYS.—Messrs. Ashmun, Brown, Daggett, Horsey, Horsey, Hunter, King, Lacock, Mason, of N. H. Morrow, Noble, Roberts, Sanford, Thompson, Tichenor, Varnum, Wells, Wilson—18.
And the question having been put on ordering the bill to be engrossed for a third reading; the Senate, on motion of Mr. Smith, adjourned without deciding thereon.
TUESDAY, FEB. 18.
Mr. Fromentin submitted the following resolution:
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That it shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Public Buildings to cause to be erected and fitted up for the reception of the Library of Congress a suitable building, upon a plan to be approved by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, to be situated on Delaware Avenue North of the Capitol.
Resolved, That when the said building shall be ready for the reception of the said Library, it shall be the duty of the Librarian to remove the same, and arrange the books therein.
The bill authorizing the appointment of a Reporter of the decisions of the Supreme Court, with a salary of one thousand dollars per annum, on condition of supplying a certain number of copies to the government within a limited time, was taken up, discussed, and ordered to a third reading by a large majority.
The Senate then went into the consideration of Executive business; and the doors remained closed until the usual hour of adjournment.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TUESDAY, FEB. 18.
Mr. H. Nelson from the committee on the judiciary, to whom an enquiry on the subject had been referred, reported that it is inexpedient to multiply the newspapers in which the acts of Congress are published. This report was agreed to.
Mr. Nelson, from the same committee, reported a bill providing an additional compensation to the Circuit Judge of the sixth circuit; which was twice read and committed for to-morrow.
Mr. Nelson, from the same committee, made unfavorable reports on the petition of Andrew Moore, marshal of Virginia, and on the petition of the Cryer and Bailiffs of the Supreme Court: which were affirmed by the House.
Mr. Sharp, from the committee on private land claims, reported a bill confirming certain claims to lands in the Illinois territory, to the heirs of Philip Renault, which was twice read and committed.
Mr. Condict, from the committee on the expenditures for the public buildings, made a report containing estimates of expenses to be incurred in finishing the public buildings, which was read and ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. Ingham, from the committee on the Post Roads, reported a bill allowing the privilege of franking to James Madison during the remainder of his life, which was twice read and ordered to a third reading to-morrow.
The Speaker laid before the House documents received from the War Department, to sustain the application of Alexander Mills, for a pension.
The Speaker also communicated the report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the petition of the merchants and vessel owners in Richmond District. The report was directed to lie on the table.
The Speaker also communicated a report of the Post-Master General of the names and salaries of his clerks in the year 1816. Ordered to lie on the table.
The Speaker also laid before the House a letter from Gov. Plumer, transmitting a map of New Hampshire, for the use of the House of Representatives.
On motion of Mr. King, of Mass. the following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That the committee on Foreign Relations be instructed to report to the House such measures as they may judge necessary, to regulate the importation of Plaister of Paris, and to counteract the regulations of any other nation, injurious to our own, relating to that trade.
INTERNAL DUTIES.
The House then resumed the consideration of the resolution moved by Mr. Williams, to repeal the Internal Duties; when the question recurred on Mr. Ingham's proposed amendment, noticed in the proceedings of yesterday.
Mr. Root moved to amend the amendment so as to confine the repeal of the duty on carriages, to those "not exceeding one hundred dollars in value;" and spoke at some length in support of his proposition.
Mr. Bateman spoke against the repeal of the duties, and concluded his speech by a motion to postpone indefinitely the resolution and proposed amendments.
Mr. Harrison also insisted on the propriety of postponement, chiefly on the ground of the impolicy of reducing the Army, which proposition had been considered as connected with that now under consideration.
Mr. Hardin spoke against the postponement, endeavoring to convince the House that these taxes might be repealed without a reduction of the Army, but in favor of reducing the army if necessary to authorise a repeal of the Internal Taxes.
Mr. Wilde spoke at considerable length in opposition to the proposed repeal, argumentatively, and on various grounds.
Mr. Root and Mr. Robertson next spoke in favor of a repeal of the taxes; the former in favor of the immediate repeal, and the latter in favor of a repeal prospectively.
Mr. Calhoun and Mr. Lowndes, in short speeches, supported the motion to postpone the subject indefinitely.
Mr. Kilbourn spoke twice against the postponement; and Mr. Smith of Maryland in favor of it.
Mr. Johnson of Virginia, and Mr. Randolph also spoke in favor of the repeal of the taxes; and Mr. Smith of Maryland, again spoke in favor of the postponement.
The question was at length taken on indefinite postponement, and decided in the negative—
For the postponement 59
Against it 94
The question then recurred on Mr. Root's proposed amendment, which he then withdrew.
The question was then taken on Mr. Ingham's motion, and decided in the negative.
The question having been stated on the original resolution proposed by Mr. Williams, a division of the question was called for—
And before taking the question thereon, the House adjourned at a late hour.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19.
CONGRESS.
IN SENATE—FEBRUARY 17.
Mr. Daggett, from the committee on the subject, reported amendments, as instructed by the Senate, to the Claims Law.
Mr. Mason, of N. H. submitted for consideration, the following resolution:
Resolved, That the committee of Finance be instructed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury, in behalf of and for the use of the United States, to purchase or cause to be erected suitable buildings for custom houses and public warehouses in such principal district in each state where, the said Secretary shall deem the same necessary, for the safe and convenient collection of the revenue of the United States.
Mr. Mason, of N. H. submitted the following:
Resolved, That the committee on Military Affairs be instructed to report to the Senate a bill to reduce the military peace establishment of the United States to the number of five thousand men, to consist of such proportions of artillery, infantry and riflemen, as the President of the United States shall deem proper, retaining the corps of engineers as at present established.
The report of the committee of claims, unfavorable to the petition of Dennis de la Ronde, was taken up and concurred in.
The bill authorizing vessels departing from the town of Bayou St. John's and basin of the Canal de Carondelet, for foreign ports, to clear out at the Custom House in the city of New Orleans, was read a second time.
The amendments of the House of Representatives to the bill authorizing the sale of a reserved square in the City of Washington, were taken up and agreed to.
The bill making appropriations for the support of government for 1817, and the bill relating to the ransom of American captives of the late war, were received from the House of Representatives, and read a first time.
The Senate resumed the bill respecting the transportation of persons of color, for sale or to be held to labor, and the bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.
The Senate resumed as in committee of the whole the consideration of the bill respecting persons escaping from the service of their masters; and a motion was made by Mr. Smith, to postpone the same indefinitely—which motion was decided as follows:
YEAS.—Messrs. Barbour, Brown, Campbell, Condit, Dana, Fromentin, Gaillard, Hardin, Macon, Mason, of Vir. Smith, Talbot, Tait, Troup, Williams.—15.
NAYS—Messrs. Ashmun, Daggett, Goldsborough, Hanson, Horsey, Howell, Hunter, Mason, of N. H. Morrow, Noble, Roberts, Ruggles, Sanford, Taylor, Thompson, Tichenor, Varnum, Wells, Wilson.—19.
The bill having been amended, was reported to the Senate. On the question to amend the bill by adding thereto the following as a new section:
And be it further enacted. That it shall and may be lawful for any constable, or any public officer, or any resident private citizen, and they or either of them are hereby authorized and empowered to seize or arrest any such negro or negroes, mulatto or mulattoes, or other person or persons of colour, and take him, her, or them, before any one of the judges or magistrates aforesaid, and upon oath being made by such constable, officer, or resident private citizen, that he hath just and reasonable grounds to believe that such negro, &c: as the case may be, hath escaped from his, her, or their owner or owners in some other of the United States or Territories, it shall then be the duty of the judge or magistrate aforesaid, and they and each of them are hereby required to commit such negro or negroes, mulatto, or other persons of colour, to the public jail of the district or county where he, she, or they shall be found and apprehended, for the space of six months, unless the owner or owners shall in a shorter time prove a right of property thereto; and it shall be the duty of the keeper of any jail to which such fugitive or fugitives shall be committed, to give public notice thereof in some public newspaper for the space of four weeks describing particularly the fugitive or fugitives so committed.
The vote was as follows:
YEAS.—Messrs. Barbour, Fromentin, Gaillard, Goldsborough, Hardin, Macon, Mason, of Va. Ruggles, Smith, Stokes, Talbot, Tait, Taylor, Troup, Williams.—15.
NAYS.—Messrs. Ashmun, Brown, Daggett, Horsey, Horsey, Hunter, King, Lacock, Mason, of N. H. Morrow, Noble, Roberts, Sanford, Thompson, Tichenor, Varnum, Wells, Wilson—18.
And the question having been put on ordering the bill to be engrossed for a third reading; the Senate, on motion of Mr. Smith, adjourned without deciding thereon.
TUESDAY, FEB. 18.
Mr. Fromentin submitted the following resolution:
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That it shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Public Buildings to cause to be erected and fitted up for the reception of the Library of Congress a suitable building, upon a plan to be approved by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, to be situated on Delaware Avenue North of the Capitol.
Resolved, That when the said building shall be ready for the reception of the said Library, it shall be the duty of the Librarian to remove the same, and arrange the books therein.
The bill authorizing the appointment of a Reporter of the decisions of the Supreme Court, with a salary of one thousand dollars per annum, on condition of supplying a certain number of copies to the government within a limited time, was taken up, discussed, and ordered to a third reading by a large majority.
The Senate then went into the consideration of Executive business; and the doors remained closed until the usual hour of adjournment.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TUESDAY, FEB. 18.
Mr. H. Nelson from the committee on the judiciary, to whom an enquiry on the subject had been referred, reported that it is inexpedient to multiply the newspapers in which the acts of Congress are published. This report was agreed to.
Mr. Nelson, from the same committee, reported a bill providing an additional compensation to the Circuit Judge of the sixth circuit; which was twice read and committed for to-morrow.
Mr. Nelson, from the same committee, made unfavorable reports on the petition of Andrew Moore, marshal of Virginia, and on the petition of the Cryer and Bailiffs of the Supreme Court: which were affirmed by the House.
Mr. Sharp, from the committee on private land claims, reported a bill confirming certain claims to lands in the Illinois territory, to the heirs of Philip Renault, which was twice read and committed.
Mr. Condict, from the committee on the expenditures for the public buildings, made a report containing estimates of expenses to be incurred in finishing the public buildings, which was read and ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. Ingham, from the committee on the Post Roads, reported a bill allowing the privilege of franking to James Madison during the remainder of his life, which was twice read and ordered to a third reading to-morrow.
The Speaker laid before the House documents received from the War Department, to sustain the application of Alexander Mills, for a pension.
The Speaker also communicated the report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the petition of the merchants and vessel owners in Richmond District. The report was directed to lie on the table.
The Speaker also communicated a report of the Post-Master General of the names and salaries of his clerks in the year 1816. Ordered to lie on the table.
The Speaker also laid before the House a letter from Gov. Plumer, transmitting a map of New Hampshire, for the use of the House of Representatives.
On motion of Mr. King, of Mass. the following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That the committee on Foreign Relations be instructed to report to the House such measures as they may judge necessary, to regulate the importation of Plaister of Paris, and to counteract the regulations of any other nation, injurious to our own, relating to that trade.
INTERNAL DUTIES.
The House then resumed the consideration of the resolution moved by Mr. Williams, to repeal the Internal Duties; when the question recurred on Mr. Ingham's proposed amendment, noticed in the proceedings of yesterday.
Mr. Root moved to amend the amendment so as to confine the repeal of the duty on carriages, to those "not exceeding one hundred dollars in value;" and spoke at some length in support of his proposition.
Mr. Bateman spoke against the repeal of the duties, and concluded his speech by a motion to postpone indefinitely the resolution and proposed amendments.
Mr. Harrison also insisted on the propriety of postponement, chiefly on the ground of the impolicy of reducing the Army, which proposition had been considered as connected with that now under consideration.
Mr. Hardin spoke against the postponement, endeavoring to convince the House that these taxes might be repealed without a reduction of the Army, but in favor of reducing the army if necessary to authorise a repeal of the Internal Taxes.
Mr. Wilde spoke at considerable length in opposition to the proposed repeal, argumentatively, and on various grounds.
Mr. Root and Mr. Robertson next spoke in favor of a repeal of the taxes; the former in favor of the immediate repeal, and the latter in favor of a repeal prospectively.
Mr. Calhoun and Mr. Lowndes, in short speeches, supported the motion to postpone the subject indefinitely.
Mr. Kilbourn spoke twice against the postponement; and Mr. Smith of Maryland in favor of it.
Mr. Johnson of Virginia, and Mr. Randolph also spoke in favor of the repeal of the taxes; and Mr. Smith of Maryland, again spoke in favor of the postponement.
The question was at length taken on indefinite postponement, and decided in the negative—
For the postponement 59
Against it 94
The question then recurred on Mr. Root's proposed amendment, which he then withdrew.
The question was then taken on Mr. Ingham's motion, and decided in the negative.
The question having been stated on the original resolution proposed by Mr. Williams, a division of the question was called for—
And before taking the question thereon, the House adjourned at a late hour.
What sub-type of article is it?
Politics
What keywords are associated?
Congress Proceedings
Senate Resolutions
House Debates
Internal Duties Repeal
Fugitive Slaves
Military Reduction
Custom Houses
Public Buildings
What entities or persons were involved?
Mr. Daggett
Mr. Mason Of N. H.
Mr. Smith
Mr. Fromentin
Mr. Williams
Mr. Ingham
Mr. Root
Mr. Bateman
Mr. Harrison
Mr. Hardin
Mr. Wilde
Mr. Robertson
Mr. Calhoun
Mr. Lowndes
Mr. Kilbourn
Mr. Johnson Of Virginia
Mr. Randolph
Where did it happen?
Washington
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Washington
Event Date
February 17 18, 1817
Key Persons
Mr. Daggett
Mr. Mason Of N. H.
Mr. Smith
Mr. Fromentin
Mr. Williams
Mr. Ingham
Mr. Root
Mr. Bateman
Mr. Harrison
Mr. Hardin
Mr. Wilde
Mr. Robertson
Mr. Calhoun
Mr. Lowndes
Mr. Kilbourn
Mr. Johnson Of Virginia
Mr. Randolph
Outcome
bills advanced to readings or committees; resolutions submitted and some adopted; unfavorable reports concurred; votes: indefinite postponement of fugitive service bill lost 15-19; amendment on seizure of fugitives lost 15-18; internal duties repeal postponement lost 59-94; ingham's amendment lost; house adjourned without final vote on repeal.
Event Details
Senate on Feb 17: Amendments to Claims Law reported; resolutions submitted to inquire into custom houses and warehouses, and to reduce military to 5,000 men; unfavorable report on Dennis de la Ronde petition concurred; bills read on Bayou St. John's clearances, Washington square sale, 1817 appropriations, war captives ransom; bill on transporting persons of color ordered engrossed; debate on escaping service bill with postponement motion lost 15-19, amendment on seizure and jail added but lost 15-18, adjourned without third reading. Senate on Feb 18: Resolution for Library of Congress building; bill for Supreme Court reporter ordered to third reading. House on Feb 18: Reports on newspapers, judge compensation, petitions; bill on Illinois land claims; estimates for public buildings; franking privilege for Madison; documents on pension, merchants petition, clerks salaries, NH map; resolution on Plaister of Paris trade; debate on internal duties repeal with speeches, Root's amendment withdrawn, Ingham's lost, postponement lost 59-94, adjourned before vote on resolution.