The Massachusetts Spy, And Worcester County Advertiser

Massachusetts Spy

Twentieth Congress.
FIRST SESSION.
FRIDAY, Dec. 14.

SENATE. Mr. Benton, with leave introduced three bills—one for the relief of sufferers by Indian depredations; and the other two respecting the disposition of certain Salt Springs, and the sale of the Lead Mines in Missouri, and the lease of those on the Upper Mississippi.

Mr. Smith, of Md. submitted resolutions directing the Committee on Commerce to inquire into the expediency of extending the terms of drawback for two years. And also the expediency of repealing so much of the existing law, as imposes a charge of two and a half per cent. on the drawback of goods. Also to enquire into the expediency of authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to cause public Warehouses to be erected in the principal cities in the United States.

Adjourned to Monday.

HOUSE. The subject of a grant of land to aid the education of the deaf and dumb, in Ohio, was referred to a select Committee.

Mr. Barnard laid on the table a resolution to request the President to communicate to the House, if not incompatible with the public interest, the Correspondence of this Government with that of Great Britain relative to the free navigation of the river St. Lawrence.

On motion of Mr. Ward, of N. Y. the memorials of the officers of the army in the late war with Great Britain were referred to the Committee on Public Lands, with instructions to report on the expediency of permitting the said officers to select a body of land to be surveyed as the public lands are, under the direction of the Commissioner of the General Land Office; which said land, when so surveyed, shall be subject to be located by warrants to be issued to said officers or to their legal representatives.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from John Randolph, declining to serve on the Committee of Ways and Means. On motion of Mr. M'Duffie, Mr. Randolph was excused and A. Smith of Va. was afterwards appointed in his stead. Adjourned to Monday.

Monday, Dec 17.

SENATE. Mr. Woodbury submitted a resolution instructing the Committee on Commerce to inquire into the expediency of abolishing all discriminating duties on foreign vessels and merchandize belonging to nations who have adopted or shall adopt a similar rule concerning the vessels of the United States.

Mr. Dickerson introduced a bill for a distribution of a portion of the revenue of the United States amongst the several States; which was read and ordered to a second reading.

The resolutions offered on Friday, by Mr. Smith of Md. relative to Drawbacks and Warehouses, were taken up and agreed to.

Mr. Hayne, of South Carolina, presented the memorial of sundry citizens of Boston and its vicinity, praying that no farther duties be imposed on importations, particularly of woollens. The memorial was read, and on motion of Mr. Hayne was referred to the Committee on Manufactures and ordered to be printed.

HOUSE. The resolution offered by Mr. Barnard on Friday, calling for the Correspondence of this Government with that of Great Britain, relative to the free navigation of the river St. Lawrence, was agreed to.

On motion of Mr. Duncan, it was resolved that the Committee on Indian Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of making an appropriation for the extinguishment of the Indian title in the State of Illinois and Michigan Territory, to all the mineral lands in the vicinity of the lead mines on Fever Island, also to a tract of country lying on the Mississippi River, below said mineral lands, or so much of it as may be necessary for a road from the settlements in the State of Illinois to said lead mines.

On motion of Mr. Ingersoll, it was resolved that the Committee on the Judiciary inquire into the expediency of extending the time for which copy rights may be hereafter secured to authors, and, also, of affording further protection to authors against the publication of abridgements or summaries of works.

Tuesday, Dec. 18.

SENATE. Mr. Robbins introduced a bill providing for the adjustment of controversies arising between the States and the United States, which was read and passed to a second reading. The bill for distributing among the several states a portion of the revenues of the U. States, was referred to a select committee of seven. Select committees were also raised upon the claims of the surviving warriors of the revolution, and upon French spoliations.

The resolution submitted yesterday by Mr. Woodbury, to consider the expediency of abolishing all discriminating duties on the vessels of foreign Powers extending the same measure to those of this country, was considered and agreed to.

HOUSE. Mr. Mitchell, of Tennessee, offered a resolution relative to the removal of the Indians to the west of the Mississippi, and placing them under a territorial government.

Several bills were reported, and several petitions reported on unfavorably. Among the bills reported was one from the select committee on that subject, to authorize the occupation of the mouth of the Oregon river. A bill was also reported by Mr. Strong, allowing the Spanish inhabitants of Florida, who were residents when the territory was transferred to this country, in 1821 the right of voting in any elections of Legislative Council, Delegate to Congress, or any other officer. This bill was ordered to be engrossed, and read a third time to-morrow.

Wednesday, Dec. 19.

SENATE. The bill providing for the adjustment of controversies between the States was read a second time and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The bill to abolish imprisonment for debt was taken up, in Committee of the whole, and was advocated in a speech of considerable length, by Mr. Johnson, of Ky.

HOUSE. Mr. M'Duffie and Mr. Smith offered joint resolutions containing propositions for the amendment of the Constitution as relates to the election of President, which were referred to a Committee of the whole on the state of the Union.

Mr. Barbour gave notice that he would to-morrow call up his resolution relative to the sale of the stock held by the Government in the U. S. Bank.

Thursday, Dec. 20.

SENATE. Mr. Hendricks submitted the following resolution: Resolved, that the Committee on the Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of ceding and relinquishing, in full property, the public islands within the limits of the new States, to the several States in which they lie.

The bill to abolish imprisonment for debt was taken up, amended, and made the special order of the day for Tuesday next.

HOUSE. The following gentlemen compose the Committee for the apportionment of Representatives under the fifth census: Messrs. Storrs, Little, Anderson, of Maine, Crowninshield, Bartlett, Pearce, Swift, Ingersoll, Thompson, of N. J. Johns, Buchanan, Roane, Holmes, of Tenn. Wright, of Ohio, Livingston, Blake, Haile, Duncan, M'Kee, of Missouri.

A discussion took place on the resolution offered by Mr. P. P. Barbour, relative to the sale of the Stock of the Government in the U. S. Bank. Mr. Barbour spoke at some length in defence of his proposition, which was opposed by Mr. M'Duffie, Mr. Barney, and Mr. Drayton.