The Kentucky Gazette

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

OF THE UNITED STATES.

MONDAY, January 18.

Mr. Sinnickson from New Jersey, and Mr. Stone from Maryland, appeared and took their seats.

A petition of James Hubbs, of the state of New Jersey mariner, was presented to the House and read, praying relief from a prosecution commenced against him at the suit of the United States, for neglect to deliver manifest of goods transported from one district in the same state to another, according to law, of which he was totally ignorant.

Ordered that the same petition, together with the memorial of John Cochran presented on Friday last be referred to the Secretary of Treasury, that he do examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

A petition [of] Dobbyns, of the kingdom of Ireland, praying that Congress may grant him a tract of land on such terms as may encourage him to bring settlers to this country was read and referred to Mr. Page, Mr. Scott, and Mr. Partridge.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Treasurer of the state of New York together with a copy of the revised laws of the said state, sent in pursuance of concurrent resolutions of the Senate and Assembly thereof, for the use of the House.

Mr. Foster from the committee appointed, presented according to order, a bill providing for the annual enumeration of inhabitants of the United States which was read the first time.

The house adjourned early in the day in order to give time to the Committee to report the various matters referred to their consideration.

TUESDAY, January 19

Several petitions from persons praying compensation for losses sustained during the late war, were read and ordered to lie on the table.

The committee to whom had been referred the part of the President's message which respected the enumeration of the inhabitants of the United States, reported in form of a bill, viz that marshals should be appointed to certain districts to distinguish the Indians, not taxed, the distinction of sex and colour above thirteen from those under that age: and that the marshal have an assistant or assistants, agreeably as there may be occasion. The marshal's assistant to take an oath that he will make a just and perfect enumeration and list of the inhabitants, &c. in the place allotted to his care, which he will deliver to the marshal of the district. The marshal to make oath that he will make or cause to be made an exact return of the inhabitants &c. which he is to deliver to the President of the United States; and for such service the marshals shall have a compensation of from 1 dollar for every 100 persons to 1 dollar for every 300 persons, agreeably to the difficulty that may attend the said business in different districts, and to obviate all doubts, every person who is found residing in any family on the first Monday in August next, shall be reckoned as in that family.

On motion, resolved to take up this business in a committee of the whole on Friday next.

Mr. Sedgwick from the committee to whom had been referred so much of the President's message as related to the providing for the pay of officers employed in foreign countries, &c. observed that a doubt had arisen among the gentlemen who composed the committee, whether they were to provide for the officers already employed abroad, or for those to be yet appointed.

Mr. Smith (S.C.) referred to the President's speech for an explanation of what the committee should report upon, viz:

"he interest of the United States requires, that our intercourse with other nations be facilitated by such provisions as we annex necessary to fulfill my duty in that respect in the manner, which circumstances may render most conducive to the public good: And to this end, that the compensations to be made to the persons who may be employed, should, according to the nature of their appointments be defined by law, and a competent fund designated for defraying the expenses incident to the conduct of our foreign affairs."— But it is a matter to be considered, whether this business should be first determined upon before the arrival of the Secretary of State.