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Domestic News
March 20, 1804
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Proceedings of the U.S. House of Representatives, Eighth Congress, from February 18-27, 1804, covering reports on lighthouse duties, territorial divisions, naval reforms, appropriations, vessel registrations in New Orleans, and nominations for consular positions.
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EIGHTH CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Saturday, Feb. 18.
Dr. Mitchell, from the committee of commerce and manufactures, made a report on the subject of laying duties for the support of light-houses.
The report is accompanied with several documents, and concludes with a resolution that a duty of 40 cents a ton be laid on foreign vessels entering the ports of the United States for the support of light-houses.
A message was received from the Senate, stating that they had passed a bill relating to the recording and registering vessels in the district of New-Orleans. The bill allows all the inhabitants of Louisiana on the 30th of April last to obtain registers.
Referred to a committee of the whole on Monday.
Monday, Feb. 20.
A bill for erecting Louisiana into two territories, and making provision for the temporary government thereof, was received from the Senate, and referred to a committee of the whole on Wednesday.
Mr. Leib reported a bill to repeal the act fixing the rank and pay of the commanding officer of the corps of marines.
Referred to a committee of the whole to-morrow.
Mr. Lattimore presented a memorial for the merchants of New-Orleans, expressive of their attachment to the United States, and disposition to support the constitution thereof, and representing the grievances under which they labor from the payment of export duties, &c.
Referred to the committee of the whole on the bill relating to the registering of vessels in the district of New-Orleans.
The House went into committee of the whole—Mr. Varnum in the chair—on the report of a select committee on the bill from the Senate, to divide the Indiana territory into two separate governments. The report, for reasons assigned, recommends a rejection of the bill.
The question being put on agreeing to the report, it passed in the negative—Yeas 34.
When the bill, from the Senate, was read, and so amended as to designate the new territory by the name of Michigan, instead of North Western Territory; and the committee rose and reported the bill, which was ordered by the House to a third reading to-morrow.
Mr. Thomas, from the joint committee of the two houses, made a report, specifying the business, in their opinion, necessary to be transacted the present session, and concluding with a resolution that it be closed the 12th March.
Messrs. Huger and Varnum advocated an immediate agreement to the report; and Messrs. Nicholson, Leib, Smilie, Findlay, and S. L. Mitchell supported a postponement.
The motion to postpone its consideration to Friday was agreed to—Ayes 56—Noes 49.
Dr. Mitchell reported a bill to provide for light houses and buoys, &c.
Referred to a committee of the whole.
Tuesday, Feb. 21.
A bill to authorize the courts of the United States to appoint commissioners to take depositions of witnesses out of courts, &c. was read the third time and passed—Ayes 70.
A bill to divide the Indiana territory into two separate governments was read the third time, and lost—Ayes 58—Nays 59.
The House went into committee of the whole on the bill making appropriations for the support of government for the year 1804. Mr. Leib moved to strike out the appropriation of 11,885 dollars for fifteen per cent compensation to clerks additional to that allowed by the act to regulate and fix the compensation of clerks.
Mr. J. Randolph opposed the motion, which was agreed to—Ayes 42—Noes 36.
The committee, having filled the respective blanks, reported the bill.
The house negatived the amendment of Dr. Leib, respecting compensation to clerks—Ayes 42—Noes 46, and reinstated the appropriation struck out in committee.
The bill was then ordered to be engrossed for a third reading to-morrow.
Wednesday, Feb. 22.
An engrossed bill making appropriations for the support of government for the year 1804 was read a third time and passed.
The house went into committee of the whole Mr. I. C. Smith in the chair on the bill from the Senate, providing for the re-recording, registering and enrolling ships or vessels in the district of Orleans.
The bill authorizing the inhabitants of Louisiana on the 20th of April, and the citizens of the United States residing therein to register their vessels.
The bill was ordered to a third reading to-morrow.
A message was received from the President, containing a Statement of the application of money appropriated to the public buildings, &c.
The House went into committee on the bills introduced by Mr. Nicholson, supplementary to the act providing for a Navy peace establishment.
Mr. Leib moved an additional section, virtually abolishing the office of lieutenant colonel commandant of the marine corps, and authorizing the President to make such other reductions of the subordinate officers as he may think fit.
The object of the bill being a reform of the expenses attending the Navy establishment, the measure contemplated by the amendment was in his opinion, a very proper one to be answered by it. The bill, he said, contemplated the annual saving, in the single article of provisions of 7,000 dollars; by abolishing the office of lieutenant colonel commandant a saving of 6,000 dollars in addition would be made—this officer made, it appeared, all the contracts, and it would be seen by documents before the house, that while the price of the ration in the war department was 15 cents, that fixed by this officer was 20 cents;—the difference made the sum of 3,750 dollars a year. It would also be seen that exorbitant sums were expended in postage and fuel; in the single article of postage 150 dollars had been expended in 3 months.
This amendment was agreed to—ayes 62.
Mr. Eustis moved a new section for the allowance to captains holding themselves in readiness to enter the service the same ra-
tions they are entitled by law to receive when in actual service—disagreed to—Ayes 87—Noes 45.
The committee rose, and the house agreed to the amendment of Mr. Leib without a division.
Mr. Jackson moved a new section for the allowance to captains required to hold themselves in readiness of the same rations they are entitled to receive when in actual service.
Mr. Nicholson supported the amendment, to which the house agreed—Ayes 44—Noes 40; when the bill was ordered to a third reading to-morrow.
Thursday, Feb. 23.
An engrossed bill to allow drawback of duties on goods, wares and merchandize, transported by land in the cases therein mentioned, was read the third time and passed.
An engrossed bill supplementary to the act providing for a naval peace establishment was read the third time.
Mr. Varnum moved to recommit it to a committee of the whole, for the purpose of striking out the section allowing rations to captains ordered to hold themselves in readiness.
This motion was supported by Messrs. Varnum, Bedinger, Sloan, Smilie, Holland, and Elmer; and opposed by Messrs. Nicholson, Jackson, and Eustis, on which the yeas and nays being called, were yeas 63—nays 54. The house went into a committee, who disagreed to the above section—ayes 55—nays 37. The bill was afterwards brought in, in an engrossed form, omitting the section, and passed—ayes 63.
An engrossed bill providing for the registering, and enrolling ships or vessels in the district of Orleans was read the third time, and passed—yeas 83—nays 39.
A message was received from the Senate stating their disagreement to the first amendment of the house to the bill providing for registering ships in the district of Orleans; and their agreement to the other amendments.
On a motion to recede from the first amendment the house divided—ayes 46—noes 43.
The house went into committee of the whole, Mr. Dawson in the chair, on the post office bill.
After making several amendments the committee rose and asked leave to sit again, which was granted.
Friday, Feb. 24.
The House went through the Post Office bill, and after making several amendments thereto, ordered it to a third reading on Monday.
The House went into a committee of the whole on the bill declaring the assent of Congress to an act of the state of North-Carolina.
Having considered the bill the committee reported it, and the House ordered it to a third reading to-morrow.
Mr. Findley, from the committee of elections, to whom was referred a memorial of Andrew Moore, respecting the election of Thomas Lewis, a sitting member, made a report, which, after stating the bad votes given for each of the candidates, concludes with the opinion that Thomas Lewis is not, and that Andrew Moore is entitled to a seat in the House.
Report made the order for Wednesday.
Monday Feb. 27. Mr. Elliot, from the committee to whom was referred the petition of Benjamin Emmons, made the following report.
The petitioner, in behalf of himself and sixty associates, inhabitants of the state of Vermont, prays that Congress would grant to them, for the purpose of settlement and cultivation, a tract of the territory lately acquired by the United States, on the west side of the Mississippi, near the mouth of the Ohio, of six miles square, on such terms and conditions as the states composing the Union have heretofore granted their lands to settlers, or as Congress shall deem proper.
While the committee feel no disposition to express an opinion unfavorable to the prayer of the petitioners, they believe it would be improper to grant it at the present moment. Without presuming to anticipate the course which it may be the interest and policy of the United States to pursue, in the disposition of the public lands in the territories west of the Mississippi, they beg leave to recommend that the farther consideration of the prayer of the said petition be postponed until the next session of Congress—Agreed to.
The House went into a committee of the whole on the resolution of Mr. Kennedy to lay out the money collected for the relief of seamen in the ports wherein it is collected.
The committee, after some discussion, rose and obtained leave to sit again.
Mr. Randolph from the committee of ways & means reported a bill making appropriations for carrying into effect the convention between the United States and Spain of the 12th of Aug. 1802—Referred to a committee of the whole house.
The post-office bill was read a third time and passed.
Mr. Thomas moved a resolution, declaring that the acceptance of John Smith of a seat in the Senate, had vacated his seat in the House, and instructing the Speaker to inform the Executive of New-York of the vacancy.—Agreed to.
The consideration of the report of the joint committee on an adjournment of Congress was postponed to Friday.
Francis Coffyn, of Dunkirk, in France, to be commercial agent of the United States at Dunkirk, vice Charles D. Cox, declined.
John F. Brown, of Massachusetts, to be consul at the Island of St. Thomas, vacant.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Saturday, Feb. 18.
Dr. Mitchell, from the committee of commerce and manufactures, made a report on the subject of laying duties for the support of light-houses.
The report is accompanied with several documents, and concludes with a resolution that a duty of 40 cents a ton be laid on foreign vessels entering the ports of the United States for the support of light-houses.
A message was received from the Senate, stating that they had passed a bill relating to the recording and registering vessels in the district of New-Orleans. The bill allows all the inhabitants of Louisiana on the 30th of April last to obtain registers.
Referred to a committee of the whole on Monday.
Monday, Feb. 20.
A bill for erecting Louisiana into two territories, and making provision for the temporary government thereof, was received from the Senate, and referred to a committee of the whole on Wednesday.
Mr. Leib reported a bill to repeal the act fixing the rank and pay of the commanding officer of the corps of marines.
Referred to a committee of the whole to-morrow.
Mr. Lattimore presented a memorial for the merchants of New-Orleans, expressive of their attachment to the United States, and disposition to support the constitution thereof, and representing the grievances under which they labor from the payment of export duties, &c.
Referred to the committee of the whole on the bill relating to the registering of vessels in the district of New-Orleans.
The House went into committee of the whole—Mr. Varnum in the chair—on the report of a select committee on the bill from the Senate, to divide the Indiana territory into two separate governments. The report, for reasons assigned, recommends a rejection of the bill.
The question being put on agreeing to the report, it passed in the negative—Yeas 34.
When the bill, from the Senate, was read, and so amended as to designate the new territory by the name of Michigan, instead of North Western Territory; and the committee rose and reported the bill, which was ordered by the House to a third reading to-morrow.
Mr. Thomas, from the joint committee of the two houses, made a report, specifying the business, in their opinion, necessary to be transacted the present session, and concluding with a resolution that it be closed the 12th March.
Messrs. Huger and Varnum advocated an immediate agreement to the report; and Messrs. Nicholson, Leib, Smilie, Findlay, and S. L. Mitchell supported a postponement.
The motion to postpone its consideration to Friday was agreed to—Ayes 56—Noes 49.
Dr. Mitchell reported a bill to provide for light houses and buoys, &c.
Referred to a committee of the whole.
Tuesday, Feb. 21.
A bill to authorize the courts of the United States to appoint commissioners to take depositions of witnesses out of courts, &c. was read the third time and passed—Ayes 70.
A bill to divide the Indiana territory into two separate governments was read the third time, and lost—Ayes 58—Nays 59.
The House went into committee of the whole on the bill making appropriations for the support of government for the year 1804. Mr. Leib moved to strike out the appropriation of 11,885 dollars for fifteen per cent compensation to clerks additional to that allowed by the act to regulate and fix the compensation of clerks.
Mr. J. Randolph opposed the motion, which was agreed to—Ayes 42—Noes 36.
The committee, having filled the respective blanks, reported the bill.
The house negatived the amendment of Dr. Leib, respecting compensation to clerks—Ayes 42—Noes 46, and reinstated the appropriation struck out in committee.
The bill was then ordered to be engrossed for a third reading to-morrow.
Wednesday, Feb. 22.
An engrossed bill making appropriations for the support of government for the year 1804 was read a third time and passed.
The house went into committee of the whole Mr. I. C. Smith in the chair on the bill from the Senate, providing for the re-recording, registering and enrolling ships or vessels in the district of Orleans.
The bill authorizing the inhabitants of Louisiana on the 20th of April, and the citizens of the United States residing therein to register their vessels.
The bill was ordered to a third reading to-morrow.
A message was received from the President, containing a Statement of the application of money appropriated to the public buildings, &c.
The House went into committee on the bills introduced by Mr. Nicholson, supplementary to the act providing for a Navy peace establishment.
Mr. Leib moved an additional section, virtually abolishing the office of lieutenant colonel commandant of the marine corps, and authorizing the President to make such other reductions of the subordinate officers as he may think fit.
The object of the bill being a reform of the expenses attending the Navy establishment, the measure contemplated by the amendment was in his opinion, a very proper one to be answered by it. The bill, he said, contemplated the annual saving, in the single article of provisions of 7,000 dollars; by abolishing the office of lieutenant colonel commandant a saving of 6,000 dollars in addition would be made—this officer made, it appeared, all the contracts, and it would be seen by documents before the house, that while the price of the ration in the war department was 15 cents, that fixed by this officer was 20 cents;—the difference made the sum of 3,750 dollars a year. It would also be seen that exorbitant sums were expended in postage and fuel; in the single article of postage 150 dollars had been expended in 3 months.
This amendment was agreed to—ayes 62.
Mr. Eustis moved a new section for the allowance to captains holding themselves in readiness to enter the service the same ra-
tions they are entitled by law to receive when in actual service—disagreed to—Ayes 87—Noes 45.
The committee rose, and the house agreed to the amendment of Mr. Leib without a division.
Mr. Jackson moved a new section for the allowance to captains required to hold themselves in readiness of the same rations they are entitled to receive when in actual service.
Mr. Nicholson supported the amendment, to which the house agreed—Ayes 44—Noes 40; when the bill was ordered to a third reading to-morrow.
Thursday, Feb. 23.
An engrossed bill to allow drawback of duties on goods, wares and merchandize, transported by land in the cases therein mentioned, was read the third time and passed.
An engrossed bill supplementary to the act providing for a naval peace establishment was read the third time.
Mr. Varnum moved to recommit it to a committee of the whole, for the purpose of striking out the section allowing rations to captains ordered to hold themselves in readiness.
This motion was supported by Messrs. Varnum, Bedinger, Sloan, Smilie, Holland, and Elmer; and opposed by Messrs. Nicholson, Jackson, and Eustis, on which the yeas and nays being called, were yeas 63—nays 54. The house went into a committee, who disagreed to the above section—ayes 55—nays 37. The bill was afterwards brought in, in an engrossed form, omitting the section, and passed—ayes 63.
An engrossed bill providing for the registering, and enrolling ships or vessels in the district of Orleans was read the third time, and passed—yeas 83—nays 39.
A message was received from the Senate stating their disagreement to the first amendment of the house to the bill providing for registering ships in the district of Orleans; and their agreement to the other amendments.
On a motion to recede from the first amendment the house divided—ayes 46—noes 43.
The house went into committee of the whole, Mr. Dawson in the chair, on the post office bill.
After making several amendments the committee rose and asked leave to sit again, which was granted.
Friday, Feb. 24.
The House went through the Post Office bill, and after making several amendments thereto, ordered it to a third reading on Monday.
The House went into a committee of the whole on the bill declaring the assent of Congress to an act of the state of North-Carolina.
Having considered the bill the committee reported it, and the House ordered it to a third reading to-morrow.
Mr. Findley, from the committee of elections, to whom was referred a memorial of Andrew Moore, respecting the election of Thomas Lewis, a sitting member, made a report, which, after stating the bad votes given for each of the candidates, concludes with the opinion that Thomas Lewis is not, and that Andrew Moore is entitled to a seat in the House.
Report made the order for Wednesday.
Monday Feb. 27. Mr. Elliot, from the committee to whom was referred the petition of Benjamin Emmons, made the following report.
The petitioner, in behalf of himself and sixty associates, inhabitants of the state of Vermont, prays that Congress would grant to them, for the purpose of settlement and cultivation, a tract of the territory lately acquired by the United States, on the west side of the Mississippi, near the mouth of the Ohio, of six miles square, on such terms and conditions as the states composing the Union have heretofore granted their lands to settlers, or as Congress shall deem proper.
While the committee feel no disposition to express an opinion unfavorable to the prayer of the petitioners, they believe it would be improper to grant it at the present moment. Without presuming to anticipate the course which it may be the interest and policy of the United States to pursue, in the disposition of the public lands in the territories west of the Mississippi, they beg leave to recommend that the farther consideration of the prayer of the said petition be postponed until the next session of Congress—Agreed to.
The House went into a committee of the whole on the resolution of Mr. Kennedy to lay out the money collected for the relief of seamen in the ports wherein it is collected.
The committee, after some discussion, rose and obtained leave to sit again.
Mr. Randolph from the committee of ways & means reported a bill making appropriations for carrying into effect the convention between the United States and Spain of the 12th of Aug. 1802—Referred to a committee of the whole house.
The post-office bill was read a third time and passed.
Mr. Thomas moved a resolution, declaring that the acceptance of John Smith of a seat in the Senate, had vacated his seat in the House, and instructing the Speaker to inform the Executive of New-York of the vacancy.—Agreed to.
The consideration of the report of the joint committee on an adjournment of Congress was postponed to Friday.
Francis Coffyn, of Dunkirk, in France, to be commercial agent of the United States at Dunkirk, vice Charles D. Cox, declined.
John F. Brown, of Massachusetts, to be consul at the Island of St. Thomas, vacant.
What sub-type of article is it?
Politics
Appointment
What keywords are associated?
House Proceedings
Eighth Congress
Lighthouse Duties
Vessel Registration
Territorial Division
Navy Reform
Appropriations Bill
Post Office Bill
Consular Nominations
What entities or persons were involved?
Dr. Mitchell
Mr. Leib
Mr. Lattimore
Mr. Varnum
Mr. Thomas
Messrs. Huger
Messrs. Nicholson
Mr. J. Randolph
Mr. I. C. Smith
Mr. Eustis
Mr. Jackson
Mr. Findley
Andrew Moore
Thomas Lewis
Mr. Elliot
Benjamin Emmons
Mr. Randolph
Mr. Kennedy
John Smith
Francis Coffyn
John F. Brown
Where did it happen?
Washington
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Washington
Event Date
February 18 27, 1804
Key Persons
Dr. Mitchell
Mr. Leib
Mr. Lattimore
Mr. Varnum
Mr. Thomas
Messrs. Huger
Messrs. Nicholson
Mr. J. Randolph
Mr. I. C. Smith
Mr. Eustis
Mr. Jackson
Mr. Findley
Andrew Moore
Thomas Lewis
Mr. Elliot
Benjamin Emmons
Mr. Randolph
Mr. Kennedy
John Smith
Francis Coffyn
John F. Brown
Outcome
various bills passed, rejected, or referred; amendments agreed or disagreed; nominations for commercial agent and consul; petition postponed; resolution on vacancy agreed to.
Event Details
Daily proceedings in the House of Representatives including reports on lighthouse duties, vessel registrations in New Orleans, territorial divisions of Louisiana and Indiana, repeal of marine corps act, memorials from merchants, appropriations for government and navy, post office bill, elections committee report, petition for land grant, and adjournments discussions.