Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

Mr. Speaker laid before the house a letter from the secretary of the treasury, enclosing
a report on the petition of Benjamin Wells, and a counter petition of the inhabitants of
Fayette county, Pennsylvania—The report, which is favorable to Mr. Wells, was re-
ferred to the committee of claims, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Davis, from the select committee to whom was referred the petition of Abraham
Bell, made a report, that the prayer of the petitioner ought not to be granted; which
was committed to a committee of the whole house, and made the order of the day for to-
morrow.

Mr. Davis called up for consideration the following resolution:

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to enquire into the expediency of expending
the provisions contained in the act of Congress, passed the 12th April, 1798, relative to
allowing compensation to the widows and orphans of the late Col. John Harding, and
Major Alexander Trueman, deceased, and that they report by bill or otherwise.

After some debate, the resolution was modified, so as to read "that a committee be
appointed to enquire into the expediency of making further provision by law, for the
relief of the widow and orphans of the late Col. John Harding, and the orphan daugh-
ter of the late Major Alexander Trueman, and that they report by bill or otherwise."

Mr. Griswold then moved, that the resolution be referred to the committee of claims.

Mr. Rutledge objected to this motion. He did not consider this as a claim against the
United States, but as an act of justice and humanity required at their hands; and in-
stanched the provision made by law for the support of the daughters of the Count De
Grasse. In his opinion, meritorious services rendered by the parent, demanded that pro-
vision should be made for his children.

Messrs. Bird and Dana also spoke against this reference, and Messrs. Kitchell, Nicko-
las and Macon in favor of it.

The motion was lost—ayes 30.

The resolution was then agreed to—ayes 57; and a committee of three appointed for
the purpose.
Mr. D. Foster from the Committee of claims, made report on the petition of Joshua
Johnston, Esq. who prayed compensation for sundry expenses and disbursements made
by him while acting as Consul of the United States at the port of London. The report
states, the powers vested by law in the Department of State, being competent to the set-
tlement of the accounts of the memorialist, the special interference of the Legislature is
unnecessary, and therefore, that the petitioner should have leave to withdraw his peti-
tion.

In this report the house concurred.

The bill sent from the Senate, for the relief of Jonathan Caulfield, was read a first
and second time, and committed to the select committee appointed on the subject of caveats
and lost certificates.

Mr. Sewall, from the committee to whom was referred the petitions of Thomas Bur-
ling and others, John Collier and others, and Cato West and others, of the Mississippi ter-
ritory, made report in part, which was committed for Monday next.

A message was received from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their secretary, notifying that
the Senate have passed a bill for the relief of Jonathan Caulfield, to which they request
the concurrence of this house.

Mr. D. Foster, from the committee of claims, made report on the petition of John
M'Vickar, who prayed compensation for a quantity of rum appropriated for public use in
the year 1781. The report states, that the assistant Commissary general gave his pri-
vate obligation for the rum in question, took a receipt, and has been allowed therefore in
the settlement of his account with the United States; that though he may not have paid
his obligation, it was a transaction between the parties interested, in which the United
States ought not to interfere, and that the petition ought not to be granted.

Thursday, April 3.

Mr. Rutledge obtained leave of absence from the services of the house for three days.

On motion of Mr. Harper; the house came to the following resolution:

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to enquire and report by bill or otherwise,
whether any and what further provisions are necessary to be made relative to sales of real
estates in satisfaction of judgments against persons indebted thereto.

Mr. Harper, from the committee of ways and means, brought in a bill, making appro-
priation for the military establishment of the United States, in the year 1800—which was
committed for Monday next.

The house resolved itself into a committee of the whole on the bill for the better government
of the navy, and to repeal the act heretofore made for that purpose—

Mr. Harper in the chair.

After making sundry amendments: the committee rose, and on the question shall the
bill be engrossed for a third reading.

Mr. Randolph moved for a commitment of the bill, on the ground that some of its
provisions were unconstitutional.

After some observations from Mr. Parker, the motion was negatived—and the bill
was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading tomorrow.

Mr. D. Foster, from the committee of claims, made a report on the petition of Benja-
min Stites; of the County of Hamilton, in the N. W. territory, who prayed for payment
for two several parcels of corn sold-and delivered. to the quarter-master-general in the
year '95:— This petition was supported by the affidavit of the said Benjamin Stites, the
petitioner, who made oath before Judge Symmes that he had never received payment
for the said corn. On application at the treasury department. the committee report, that
they found he had been paid, and had given a receipt for the money, within three days
after the delivery of the corn.— The committee therefore recommended that the petition
should be rejected.—In this report the house concurred.

Adjourned.