The Rhode Island Republican

22d Congress-2d Session.

Saturday, Jan. 12. After the usual morning business, the Senate took up Mr Clay's bill relative to the public lands. Mr. Buckner occupied the floor against the bill, until 3 o'clock, when motion to adj. prevailed.

In the House, Saturday, Jan. 12.- A great number of petitions were presented and referred.

A bill for the relief of the heirs of Matthew Lyon was in order for a third reading. This bill provides for the payment, from the Treasury of the United States, of $600 with interest from the year 1799 being the amount of a fine inflicted upon said Lyon under the Sedition Law. The report of the committee assigns as a reason for repaying this sum that the law was unconstitutional.

A motion was made and lost, to lay the bill on the table.

After which Col. Drayton opened the debate in opposition to the bill. He was sustained by Mr. Burgess and others.

It was supported by Mr. Wayne, Mr. Davis, Mr. Angel, and Gen. Root, who spoke until the hour of adjournment.

In the Senate, on Monday Mr. Clay presented a memorial from a Society in the far West, called the "Endless Life Society"---praying for a life lease of a portion of the public land, for the occupation of their community. In presenting the papers, Mr. S. remarked, in substance, that he hardly knew what disposition to make of the papers. The memorialists prayed for a deed in fee to a portion of the public domain, and according to their principles, they were to have it forever. Presuming, therefore, that he should be subjected to their everlasting enmity, unless he presented the papers to the Senate, he had done so. The memorial was accompanied by a letter commending the subject to the attention of Henry Clay and R. M. Johnson.

In the Senate on Tuesday the 15th the following resolution offered the day before, by Mr. Calhoun, was taken up for consideration:

Resolved, That the President be requested to lay before the Senate a copy of his Proclamation of the 10th of December last; and also the authenticated copies of the Ordinance of the people of the State of South Carolina, with the documents accompanying the same; and of the proclamation of the Governor of South Carolina, of the 20th of December last, which was transmitted to him by the executive of that State, with the request that he should lay them before Congress.

After some discussion, for which the reporter had no notes, Mr. C. stated it as his object merely to have the documents laid officially before the Senate. The resolution was laid on the table.

In the House of Representatives an amendment was offered by Mr. Burgess to the Tariff Bill.

After some discussion in which Mr. Kennon of Ohio, and Mr. Choate of Massachusetts spoke in opposition, and Mr. Gilmore of Penn. in favor of the bill, the committee rose and the House adjourned.