Gazette Of The United States

A report from the Secretary of the Treasury was read, pursuant to the order of the house of the 24th instant—accompanied with sundry estimates—which were ordered to be printed.

Mr. Fitzsimons moved that the report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the subject of Manufactures, should be referred to a select committee.

Mr. Giles said he should prefer a reference to the committee of the whole house—He observed that if the gentleman had read it with as much attention as he had, he would consider it as containing propositions which merited the attention of the committee of the whole.

The motion for a select committee was negatived, 24 to 21. It was then voted that the report be referred to a committee of the whole, and made the order of the day for Monday next.

The report of the Select committee on a letter from the Attorney-General, communicated to the house by the President of the United States, was taken into consideration, and agreed to—and a committee appointed to report a bill accordingly.

The message of the President of this day, respecting the bounty lands to the officers and soldiers of the Virginia line, it was voted should be referred to a committee formerly appointed on the same subject.

Adjourned.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 24.

A petition of Louis Gualanjeau, for himself and brother, was read, and referred to a select committee, consisting of Mr. Dayton, Mr. Williamson, and Mr. W. Smith.

A petition of Henry Walton, in behalf of himself and sisters, was read, praying compensation for losses sustained in the late war—Referred to the Secretary of the Treasury.

Mr. Lawrence, of the committee appointed for the purpose, reported a bill concerning the office of the Attorney-General of the United States, which was read a first and second time, and referred to a committee of the whole house.

On motion of Mr. Benson, the house resolved itself into a committee of the whole, and took into consideration sundry propositions respecting the apportionment of representatives among the people of the several states.

The propositions were as follow:

That it is the opinion of this committee that a bill ought to be prepared, apportioning representatives among the several states, according to the first enumeration—and for making provision for a second enumeration—and for an apportionment of representation thereon, to compose the House of Representatives after the 3d day of March, 1797.

On motion of Mr. Gerry, and by consent of Mr. Benson, (the original mover of the propositions) the following clause was added—And that the committee do not report a greater ratio than 30,000 inhabitants, to every representative.

A motion to strike out the last clause occasioned some debate, and was finally negatived. The foregoing propositions being agreed to by the committee, were reported by the Chairman to the house—who took the same into consideration.

Mr. Dayton moved that the report should be amended, by striking out the whole after the words 'first enumeration,' in the first proposition. This motion, after some debate, was divided—and the ayes and noes being called on the proposition providing for a second enumeration, the motion for striking out was negatived, 36 to 23. The motion to strike out the last clause, designating the ratio of representation, was carried in the affirmative—Ayes 33, Noes 26.

A committee was then appointed to report a bill, consisting of Mr. Benson, Mr. Madison, and Mr. Gerry.

The House then took into consideration the amendments agreed to by the committee of the whole, to the bill to ascertain and regulate the claims to invalid pensions, &c.

These amendments were agreed to with amendments—additional amendments were proposed, and agreed to.—The House adjourned without finishing the bill.