The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser

National Legislature.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Wednesday, November 6.

The House resumed the reading of the documents accompanying the message, and having read the greater part of the same, ordered five thousand copies thereof to be printed.

Thursday, November 7.

Little business has been done in the House to-day. On motion of Mr. Dawson, the appointment of the standing committees was postponed till to-morrow, in order to give the new Speaker further time to make his selections; so that we shall not know till Monday next, who they will be. The appointment of the committee of Elections, however was not deferred. Mr. Burwell presented the petition of John Talliaferro, of Virginia, complaining of the illegal election of John Hungerford. This petition was referred to the committee of elections, and then the House adjourned before 12 o'clock.

Friday, November 8.

Mr. Mitchell renewed the motion which he made yesterday for the appointment of the usual, standing Committees. Agreed to. On motion of Mr. Dawson, Resolved, That a committee of 17 be appointed to bring in a bill apportioning the Representatives among the several states according to the third enumeration. On motion of Mr. Rhea, the petition of the inhabitants of Louisiana, praying for the establishment of a territorial government, presented at a former session, was referred to select committee of three members. Mr. Jennings presented a memorial from the House of Representatives and legislative council of Indiana, praying for an alteration in the laws relative to publick lands, so that purchasers should not be compelled to pay interest on deficient instalments. Referred to the committee on publick lands. Mr. [?] presented a petition from the owners of a vessel in Newburyport, which was seized and condemned at Naples, with a cargo of fish, under the Berlin and Milan decrees, praying relief from Congress. Referred to the committee of commerce and manufactures. Mr. Seybert presented the memorial of George Armaroyd & Co. of Philadelphia, stating that they had a large amount of debts due them in the islands of St. Croix and St. Martins; that they had received a cargo of rum in part payment, since the passage of the non-importation law, which had been seized by the collector of Philadelphia; and praying relief in the premises, and also that they may be permitted to collect the remainder of their debts, &c. Mr. Seybert moved that the memorial be referred to the committee of commerce and manufactures. Mr. Wright was opposed to making any particular exceptions. He wished to see the Non-Importation law rigidly enforced. What would France say, when she found us not acting up to the pledge we had given her? He hoped Congress would shew their detestation for the violations of the law and that the memorial would not be referred at all. Mr. Seybert said it was usual to refer every petition couched in decent terms. He had merely done his duty in presenting this memorial, without pledging himself to vote for it ultimately. Mr. Smilie made a few observations to the same effect, when the memorial was ordered to be referred to the committee of commerce and manufactures. A message was received from the President, communicating two letters from General Turreau and Mr. Serrurier, to the Secretary of State, relative to the Berlin and Milan decrees, and detailing the articles admissible in the ports of France. Five thousand copies were ordered to be printed. Mr. Serrurier's letter is dated on the 23d July. Mr. Bacon offered a resolution, directing the committee of claims to inquire into the expediency of suspending so much of the several acts of limitation as bar a certain description of claims against the United States, viz. loan office certificates, lost or destroyed, certificates, &c. Ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Randolph offered a resolution for the appointment of a committee to superintend the clerk's office, to examine the state of the documents, and report thereon to the House. Mr. Randolph afterwards withdrew the resolution. On motion of Mr. Davenport, Resolved, That two Chaplains of different denominations be appointed by Congress for the present session, one by each House, who shall interchange weekly. Mr. Reed presented a petition from William Deane, of Salem, praying permission to import certain goods from Great-Britain. Referred to the committee of commerce and manufactures. And the House adjourned till Monday.

IN SENATE, November 6.

The Senate made further progress in reading the Documents accompanying the President's Message, but did not come to a conclusion previous to their adjournment.