The Hillsborough Recorder

CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Wednesday, December 19.

After the presentation and reference of petitions—

Mr. Moore, of Pa. requested to be, and was, excused from serving on the committee on Indian affairs.

Mr. Sloan, from the committee on elections, reported a resolution unfavorable to the petition of Matthew Lyon, contesting the right of James Woodson Bates to a seat in the house of representatives as a delegate from the territory of Arkansa.

The resolution was adopted, and leave given to the petitioner to withdraw his petition.

Mr. Colden submitted for consideration the following resolve, which, according to the rules of the house, lies on the table one day of course:

Resolved, That the commissioners of the navy fund be requested to report to this house whether all the sick and disabled seamen of the United States who have contributed to the sums received under the acts for the relief of sick and disabled seamen, have, during the years 1817, 1818, 1819, and 1820, been relieved when they applied for relief, and, if not, why relief in such cases has been refused.

Resolved, That the said commissioners be requested also to report what are the existing rules and orders to the agents of government which regulate the admission of sick and disabled seamen into the hospitals of the United States.

The engrossed bill providing for paying to the state of Missouri three per cent. of the nett proceeds arising from the sale of public lands within the state, was read a third time, and sent to the senate for concurrence.

The house then resolved itself into a committee of the whole (Mr. Wright, of Maryland, in the chair) on the bill to revive and continue in force for a further time the bill providing for the relief of persons disabled by known wounds received in the revolutionary war.

After considerable debate, the bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading; and

The house adjourned.

Thursday, December 20.

The resolutions yesterday submitted by Mr. Colden, calling on the commissioners of naval hospitals for certain information relative to the administration of the fund for the relief of sick and disabled seamen, being taken up for consideration:——

Mr. Smith, of Md. suggested that the information would perhaps be more properly required at the hand of the secretary of the treasury; and

Mr. Colden readily consented to give to his motion that direction.

After some remarks by Mr. Colden, the resolutions were agreed to without opposition.

Mr. Colden submitted the following resolve:

Resolved, That the committee to whom was referred the memorial of the Bank of the United States be directed to inquire and report to this house, whether the said Bank is not in the practice of taking more than six per centum per annum for or upon its loans or discounts.

Mr. C. stated the object of the resolution to be, to inquire and ascertain whether the Bank of the United States had not violated its charter. It would be recollected, that, by the express terms of the act constituting the Bank, this house was authorised to institute a committee to make such inquiry. He had been informed by good authority, that, from its first establishment to the present time, the Bank had been in the habit of requiring and receiving, a greater interest than six per cent. to which it is limited by the charter. The manner in which this was done, was by miscalculation of time, giving to the year only 360 days, instead of 365. This might, at first, appear to be an unimportant matter; but it would be found, on calculation, that, upon the discounts made at that Bank, the difference in seventy years would amount to a sum equal to the whole capital of the Bank. it was true, that the charter limited the duration of the Bank to thirty years; but it was equally true, that it looked forward to a renewal of its charter, and would probably be able to accomplish its object.

After some discussion, the resolution was adopted.

Friday, December 21.

Mr. Lowndes, of South Carolina, appeared, was qualified, and took his seat.

On motion of Mr. Condict, it was

Resolved, That the committee on roads and canals be instructed to inquire and report upon the expediency of affording aid, by the United States, to any company incorporated under the laws of N Jersey, for the purpose of connecting, by a canal, the waters of the Delaware and the Rariton.
On motion of Mr. Nelson, of Maryland, it was

Resolved, That the commissioner of the public buildings be directed to report to this house a statement of the amount of unimproved property in the city of Washington, belonging to the United States, with an estimate of its probable cash value at this time.

The joint resolution submitted by Mr. Campbell, of Ohio, (in relation to the distribution of the copies of the marshals' returns of the fourth census) having been engrossed, on motion, was read a third time and passed.

Mr. Wood called for the consideration of a resolution submitted by him some days since in relation to the mint establishment and coins of the United States.

The house agreed to consider the same, which, by the assent of the mover, was so modified as to make it referable to a select committee, and to extend the subject matter of the reference to foreign coins. It was then adopted.

Mr. Mallory submitted the following resolution:

Resolved, That the committee on naval affairs be directed to inquire into the expediency of establishing one or more naval schools, for the purpose of promoting the instruction of such persons as may be intended for the naval service of the United States.

The resolution was negatived.

Mr. M'Coy moved, that, when this house do adjourn, it adjourn until Monday next, which was agreed to.

Monday, December 24.

After the usual routine of introductory business had been gone through with, a great number of petitions were presented from various parts of the Union, and referred to the appropriate committees.

Mr. S. Smith from the committee of ways and means, reported a bill for making a partial appropriation for the military service of the United States, for the year 1822, which was twice read and committed.

On motion of Mr. Rochester, it was

Resolved, That the secretary of the treasury be requested to report to this house the quantity of land relinquished to the United States; the quantity on which full payment has been made; and the quantity on which further credit has been allowed under the provisions of the act for the relief of the purchasers of the public lands prior to the first day of July, 1820, passed March 2, 1821; distinguishing the amount of the debt on which further credit has been allowed.

On motion of Mr. Moore, of Pennsylvania,

It was

Resolved, That the committee on Indian affairs be instructed to inquire whether any, and, if any, what, change is expedient in the system of our intercourse with the Indian tribes: and also to inquire what further measures ought to be adopted for the promotion of their comfort and civilization.

Mr. Hill moved that when this house do adjourn it adjourn until Wednesday next, which motion was carried.

Mr. Cook called for the consideration of a resolution submitted on a former day by the member from Missouri (Mr. Scott) to instruct the committee on the judiciary to inquire whether any, and, if any, what, alterations are necessary to be made in the organization of the courts of the United States, so as more equally to extend their advantages to the several states.

The house agreed to consider the same, and the resolution was adopted.

The house adjourned.