Martinsburgh Gazette

Congress.

House of Representatives.

Monday, June 8.

Mr. Wheaton, presented the petition of a large number of the inhabitants of New Bedford, Mass. praying a repeal of the non-importation and embargo laws, and deprecating war. Laid on the table.

Mr. Chittenden presented one of similar import from Halifax, Vermont. Laid on the table.

Mr. Crawford presented the petition of the citizens of York County, Penn. deprecating war. Laid on the table.

Mr. Milnor presented several memorials from the city and county of Philadelphia and county of Delaware, signed by between 7 and 800 freemen, praying the repeal of the restrictive system and deprecating war against England. Laid on the table.

Mr. Dawson presented the resolutions of a meeting of the inhabitants of Fredericksburg and Falmouth, pledging themselves to support the government in a war with England, &c. Laid on the table.

Mr. Johnson offered the following: Resolved that the committee on military affairs be instructed to enquire into the expediency of authorising the President of the United States to organize—additional companies of Rangers, and that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise. Adopted.

Mr. Poindexter called up his resolution for asking the assent of Georgia to the forming of two separate governments in the Mississippi territory. Adopted.

Mr. Pearson after some prefatory observations, offered the following:

Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed to lay before this House a statement of the number of troops which have been enlisted for the service of the U. S. under the authorities of laws passed during the present session of Congress—designating those enlisted for the old and those for the new establishment—and the particular corps to which they are attached. That he lay before the House a statement of the number of volunteers, who have tendered their services to the executive of the U. S. in conformity with the law passed at this session of Congress, authorising the acceptance of Volunteers—that he designate the states or territories from which such tender of services may have been made.—That he state what additional improvements have been made in the fortifications or other works of defence on our maritime frontier, during the last six months—and that he state, as far as practicable, the actual state of such fortifications or works, and the quantum of resistance they are, in his opinion, calculated to afford against the attack of any naval power.

The question on considering the resolution was taken by ayes and noes and were—yeas 37, nays 82, so the house refused to consider it.

June 9.

Mr. Milnor presented petitions signed by between two and three hundred citizens of the first Congressional District of Penn. praying the removal of the restrictive system and deprecating war with England.—Laid on the table.

A message in writing was received from the President of the U. States, by Mr. Coles his secretary, covering a correspondence between Mr. Monroe and Mr. Foster in relation to the declaration of the Prince Regent on the subject of the Orders in Council, and the impressment of American Seamen. The message was read and ordered to lie on the table, and be printed. Adjourned.

[The house was engaged for the most part on Wednesday and Thursday with closed doors.]

June 12.

Mr. Quincy presented a resolution of the Legislature of Massachusetts deprecating war with England, and a memorial from that body on the same subject, which were read and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Chittenden presented a number of petitions signed by 997 citizens of the state of Vermont, remonstrating against the restrictive system and contemplated War.—Laid on the table.

Mr. Mitchell presented the petition of 310 citizens of New-York, in opposition to War. Laid on the table.

Mr. Johnson presented the petition of Tho’s Johnson and others, owners of the brig Saint Michaels, praying compensation for losses sustained in consequence of the illegal proceedings of the Dutch and French governments in relation to her cargo of tobacco. Referred to the Secretary of State.

Mr. Cheves from the committee of ways and means reported a bill to authorise the issuing of TREASURY NOTES. [This bill contemplates the issuing of notes to such amount as may be deemed expedient not exceeding 5,000,000 dollars, to bear an interest of five and two fifths per cent. and may be received in payment for public lands, &c.] Read twice and committed to a committee of the whole house for to-morrow.

A bill from the Senate further to provide for the refugees from the British provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia was read twice and referred to the committee on the public lands.

The House in committee of the whole, Mr. Piper in the chair, on a bill authorising additional companies of rangers.

Mr. Wright proposed to appropriate 45,000 dollars for defraying the expense of the same. Agreed to. The committee rose, reported the bill as amended and the House concurred and ordered it to be engrossed and read a third time this day.

The House in committee of the whole, Mr. Nelson in the chair. On a bill for confirming grants to land in the Mississippi territory derived from the British government of West Florida.

The committee made some amendments to the bill, rose, reported it to the House. Adjourned.

June 13.

Mr. Milnor presented a number of memorials against the restrictive system, and deprecating war at this time. Laid on the table.

Mr. Troup laid before the House the proceedings of a meeting of the citizens of Savannah. They ask of Congress an immediate declaration of War against England, and on contingencies also recommend War with France, which were read and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Wright from the committee on military affairs, to whom was referred the petition of Edward Clark, relative to his invention of floating batteries, with the letters of the Secretary of War and Navy on that subject, made a report, which concludes by recommending that the petitioner have leave to withdraw his papers. The report was concurred in.

The bill for organizing certain companies of Rangers was read a third time and passed.

A report was laid on the table from the secretary of War on the subject of the Portable bridge invented by Mr. Connor—the report is favorable.

The House in committee of the whole, Mr. Breckenridge in the chair on a bill concerning Invalid Pensioners.

After considerable time spent thereon, the committee rose, reported progress and asked leave to sit again, which was granted. Adjourned.