The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

CONGRESS:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

SATURDAY, March 24.

The bill for ascertaining the bounds of a tract of land purchased by John C. Simms, was read the third time and passed the house.

The bill providing for the erection of a light-house on Baldhead, at the mouth of Cape-Fear river, in the state of North-Carolina, was read the last time, and after filling up the blank, passed the house.

The bill for altering the times for holding the circuit courts and for other purposes, was read the second time and referred to a committee of the whole on Monday next.

In committee of the whole, Mr. Seney in the chair, the bill supplementary to the bill making provision for the protection of the Western Frontiers, was taken up --the substance is to provide for the appointment of Brigadier generals, whereby there would be a saving of expense in the appointment of other officers; a proviso was moved for, to limit the number to four--Colonel Hartley mentioned five, and after some consideration the word four was agreed to.

The committee rose and reported the bill, to which the house agreed, and proceeded to the third reading thereof--passed.

Monday, March 26.

Mr. Giles laid on the table the following resolution, declaring at the same time, that it was far from his intention to criminate or reflect upon the character of any person concerned:

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to institute an inquiry into the causes of the late defeat of the army under the command of Major-general St. Clair; and also the causes of the detentions or delays which attended the money, clothing, provisions and military stores for the use of the said army, and into such other causes, as may in any manner have been productive of the said defeat.

The Bill (sent from the Senate) establishing a mint, and regulating the coins of the United States, was read a third time, and passed, with the amendment, substituting an emblematical figure of LIBERTY, as the device on one side of the gold and silver coins.

On the passage of the bill, the yeas were 32 nays 22.

The bill and the amendments were then sent to the Senate, and, in some time after,
A message from the Senate was delivered by Mr. Secretary Otis, notifying that they had considered the said amendment, and disagreed to it.

The house proceeding to consider the said message, a motion was made to recede from the amendment. On the question for receding the yeas were 24, the nays 32.

A motion being then made, that the house should adhere to their amendment, the question was carried in the affirmative.

Mr. Secretary Otis informed the house that the Senate had agreed to the proposed amendment to the bill respecting the Brigadier-generals.

The committee of enrollment reported that they had this day presented the representation bill to the President of the United States, for his approbation.

Pursuant to the order of the day, the house again resolved itself into a committee of the whole, (Mr. Seney, in the chair) on the report of the select committee, on the memorial of the Directors of the Ohio company; and after some debate, the committee rose, and reported sundry resolutions, one of which was rejected by the house, and the others adopted.

Tuesday, March 27.

Mr. S. Bourne, from the committee of enrollment, presented to Mr. Speaker, duly enrolled a "bill supplemental to the act making further and more effectual provision for the defence of the frontiers of the United States;" Mr. Speaker signed the same; and before the house rose, Mr. Bourne reported, that the committee had waited on the President of the United States, and presented him the said bill, for his approbation.

A message was delivered by Mr. Secretary Lear, informing the house, that the President of the United States had this day signed an "Act providing for the settlement of the claims of particular persons barred by the limitations heretofore established;" and also an "Act for the relief of widows, orphans, invalid pensioners, and certain other persons."

A resolution, laid yesterday on the table by Mr. Giles, was taken up, and amended as follows:

Resolved, That the President of the United States, be requested to institute an inquiry into the causes of the late defeat of the army under the command of Major-general St. Clair; and also into the causes of the detentions or delays, which are suggested to have attended the money, clothing, provisions, and military stores for the use of the said army; and into such other causes as may in any manner have been productive of the said defeat.

After a debate of some length, a division of the question being called for, the question was taken on the first part, as far as the
words "Major-general St. Clair," which passed in the negative, yeas 21; nays 35; the remainder of the resolution was lost of course.

The following resolution was then adopted, yeas 44; nays 10.

"Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the causes of the failure of the late expedition under Major-general St. Clair; and that such committee be empowered to call for such persons, papers and records as may be necessary to assist their inquiries."

A committee was accordingly appointed, consisting of Messrs. Fitzsimons, Giles, Steele, Mercer, Vining, Clarke, and Sedgwick.

In consequence of the passing of the act by which a general provision is made, for claims, to invalid pensioners, many of the petitions, heretofore referred to heads of departments, not requiring now to be particularly reported on, the following order was proposed by Mr. Sturges, and adopted by the house, viz.

Ordered, that the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of War, return the petitions presented to this house by invalids and others, whose cases are comprehended in the provisions of any act of the present session: with the papers accompanying the said petitions, which have been referred to them, and are now in their offices; and that the several petitioners have leave to withdraw their petitions.

The report of the select committee on the memorial of the officers of the levies, late in the service of the United States, was taken up for consideration; and on a motion that the house should agree to the report, the question passed in the negative.

Mr. Madison, who had voted with the majority, for the appointment of a committee of inquiry, moved for a reconsideration of the vote, for the purpose of substituting the following resolution, instead of the one adopted:

"Resolved, that a committee be appointed, to make inquiry into such circumstances, connected with the late unsuccessful expedition under the command of Major-general St. Clair, as may be proper to be reported for the information of this house."

Some objections however being made, the house, without taking a question on the motion, adjourned.