Gazette Of The United States

In committee of the whole on the bill making compensation to Alex. C. Hanson.

Mr. Dayton in the chair.

An amendment was proposed but not agreed to: The committee on motion rose and reported progress.

A message was received from the President of the United States by his Secretary, Mr. Lear, which informed the House that the President had approved and signed an act relative to claims against the United States not barred by any act of limitation.

A message from the Senate informed the House that they have considered the bill for repealing part of a resolution of the late Congress respecting the inhabitants of Post Vincennes, and have concurred therein. He also informed the House that the Senate are now ready to meet the House in the Senate chamber, for the purpose of opening and counting the votes for President and Vice-President of the United States.

The House accordingly repaired to the Senate chamber.

The members were absent from the House one hour and a half. After they had returned the Clerk read a statement of the votes as ascertained by the Tellers of the two Houses, which are as follow:

George Washington, 132
John Adams, 77
George Clinton, 50
Thomas Jefferson, 4
Aaron Burr, 1

The House again went into committee of the whole on the bill to make compensation to Alexander C. Hanson. The 2d section, after some debate, was struck out. The bill was then reported as amended. The question on engrossing the bill was put and negatived.

The Chairman announced a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury; some parts of which, being of a confidential nature, the galleries were cleared.

THURSDAY, Feb. 14.

Mr. Wadsworth brought in a report on the petitions of the French inhabitants of Gallipolis—Read, and laid on the table.

The same gentleman presented the petition of Roger Enos, praying compensation for military services, which was read, and laid on the table.

Mr. Heister presented the petition of Margaret Sear, praying compensation for the arrearages due to her late husband for military service;—this was referred to a select committee.

The reading of confidential communications being announced, the galleries were shut.

Whilst the galleries were shut,

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Secretary Otis, informed the House, that the President of the United States had approved and signed the act respecting fugitives from justice, and persons escaping from the service of masters.

And, that the Senate directed him to lay before the House, a bill entitled an act supplementary to the act, entitled, "An act to provide more effectually for the collection of the duties imposed by law on goods, wares and merchandize imported into the United States, and on the tonnage of ships or vessels"—in which the Senate request the concurrence of the House.

Another message from the Senate informed the House, that they had appointed Messrs. King, Izard, and Strong, a committee, to join such committee as this house would appoint, to acquaint the President of the United States of his being elected for another term of four years, from the 4th day of March next.—

This message was taken up in the House of Representatives, and Messrs. Smith (S. C.), Madison, and Lawrence, were appointed.

FRIDAY, February 15.

A bill supplementary to the collection law, received from the Senate, was twice read, and on motion, referred to a select committee, consisting of Mr. Goodhue, Mr. W. Smith, and Mr. Hindman.

A bill to refund to Jacob Bell, certain duties on pickled fish, was read the third time, and passed.

A bill for placing on the pension list such officers and soldiers of the militia, as shall be wounded and disabled in the public service, was twice read, and committed to a committee of the whole house.

A report on the petition of the Printers and Booksellers was read; this report is against repealing the duty on imported printing paper—but in favor of taking off all imposition on rags imported; referred to a select committee.

Mr. Goodhue laid a motion on the table to extend the term for receiving subscriptions to the loan of the United States, to the day of

A report from the Secretary of War on the petition of Jonathan Haskell and Abraham Watson, was read—this report was favorable to the petitioners; laid on the table.

The reading of communications which have been before the House for several days, from the Secretary of the Treasury, was resumed.

The reading being finished; a motion was made that these communications should be referred to a select committee, with instructions to report to the House their opinion respecting such parts of them as it will be eligible to publish. Another motion was made, that those should be printed without any such reference as are not expressly communicated as confidential—some discussion took place, which ended in an order for clearing the galleries.

The House being again opened,

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary, informed the House, that the Senate have passed the bill to promote the progress of useful arts, with amendments— and that the bill in favor of H. E. Lutterloh, having been considered by the Senate, they had resolved that the said bill do not pass.

The amendments proposed by the Senate to the act for establishing the Judicial Courts of the United States, were referred to a committee of the whole House on Monday next.

Mr. Giles, of the committee appointed to enquire into the causes of the failure of the expedition under Gen. St. Clair, brought in a report supplementary to that made at the last session—This report being read, it was ordered that 1000 copies of this, with the original report, be printed for the use of the House.

On motion of Mr. W. Smith, the subject was referred to the consideration of the whole House, on Wednesday next.

The committee to whom were referred for consideration certain communications from the Secretary of the Treasury, reported a statement of such as in their opinion it was proper should be published—the report was accepted by the House.

The amendments of the Senate to the bill to promote the progress of useful arts, were taken into consideration, and agreed to.

Mr. W. Smith, of the joint committee appointed to wait on the President to inform him of his election, reported that the committee had performed that service.

A motion was laid on the table, that a committee be appointed to bring in a bill for fixing the time of the next annual meeting of Congress.

Mr. Giles laid a motion on the table to the following effect—That the Commissioners for purchasing the public debt be directed to lay before this House a statement of their proceedings from the commencement of that institution to the present time—specifying the sums carried to the credit of that account, and the sources from whence they have been drawn—and the amount of monies now on hand applicable to the purchase of the public debt.

Adjourned till to-morrow.