Virginia Argus

DOMESTIC.
CONGRESS.

IN SENATE....April 13.

A number of bills were reported by the select committees to whom they had been referred, some without amendment.

The President of the Senate communicated the memorial of Joseph Nourse, Register of the Treasury of the United States, praying an increase of compensation, &c.; which was read and committed.

Several bills were read a second time, and referred to various committees.

The bill from the House to erect Indiana territory into a state, was read a third time and passed.

The bill from the House to change the mode and rate of taxation on distillation of spirits in the United States, was read a third time and passed.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the joint resolution directing medals to be struck, & together with the thanks of Congress, presented to Major General Harrison and Governor Shelby, & for other purposes.

After some discussion on the expediency of adopting such a resolution at this time, and of coupling the names of Gen. Harrison and Gov. Shelby—

Mr. Lacock moved to amend the resolution, by striking therefrom "Major General William Henry Harrison."

This motion was determined in the affirmative by the following vote:

YEAS—Messrs. Dana, Gaillard, Gore, Hunter, King, Lacock, Mason N. H. Roberts, Tait, Thompson, Tichenor, Turner, Varnum—13.

NAYS—Barbour, Barry, Condit, Horsey, Mason, Morrow, Ruggles, Talpot, Wells, Williams—11.

The further consideration of the subject was then postponed to a day in next week, on motion of Mr. Roberts.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the joint resolution proposed respecting adjournment, which was, on motion of Mr. King, postponed to Saturday next.

Considerable discussion took place on a bill "for the liquidation of certain claims, and for other purposes," the object of which is to facilitate an equitable settlement of accounts in the cases where vouchers have been lost, to provide for other cases of lost papers, land warrants, &c.; but the bill was ultimately rejected.

On motion of Mr. Morrow, the committee on roads and canals were discharged from the consideration of several subjects specifically referred to them.

Many bills were read a second time; and the bill last mentioned in yesterday's proceedings was read a third time and passed.

Several petitions were presented from Philadelphia, New-York and Boston, respecting particular parts of the new tariff now before Congress; and were read.

On motion of Mr. Campbell, Herman Hendrick had leave to withdraw his petition.

Mr. Taylor moved to reconsider the vote of yesterday, on passing to a third reading the bill for the "liquidation of certain claims, and for other purposes." His motion was negatived, by yeas and nays, 8 to 11.

On motion of Mr. Roberts, the message of the President of the United States respecting the patent office, was referred to a select committee. Messrs. Roberts, Macon and King are the committee.

The Senate took up for consideration the bill "to regulate the duties on imports and tonnage," and agreed to several amendments reported by the financial committee. The bill was not gone through before the Senate adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The following resolution was adopted yesterday the 15th, on motion of Mr. Scotts: but accidentally omitted.

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to lay before Congress at the commencement of the next session, a statement as fully as the same can be made, of the amount, of Loan Office and final-settlement certificates, issued under the authority of the Continental Congress, and which remain outstanding, unsatisfied; designating such as are barred by statutes of limitation only, and such as remain unsettled for other reasons.

Tuesday, April 16.

After the presentation and reference of sundry petitions:

Mr. Yancey, from the committee of Claims, reported a bill for the relief of Samuel Manac, a friendly Creek Indian; which was twice read and committed.

Mr. Archer, from the committee on expenditures in the Navy, made a report thereon, which was read and laid on the table.

Mr. Forsyth from the committee on Foreign Relations, made a report on the various petitions respecting the Plaster trade, and the trade of the British West-Indies, recommending that no importations be permitted from British colonies in America, or the British West-India islands, but in American vessels. The report was ordered to be on the table.

The committee on Naval Affairs were, on motion, discharged from the further consideration of the petitions of John Noon, Frederick Williamson and others.

Mr. Johnson of Kentucky from the Military committee, reported a bill for the liquidation of certain claims arising during the War which was once read and ordered to lie on the table.

The bills yesterday ordered to a third reading were this day accordingly read the third time and severally passed without opposition, except in one instance.

The engrossed bill to increase the salary of the Clerk of the House, and the compensation of the subordinate Clerks 20 per cent, for extra duty in bringing up old arrears of business, was read the third time. Mr. Mardin opposed the bill, with some warmth, and demanded the yeas and nays on its passage. It was advocated by Mr. Hopkinson and Mr. M'Kee, and passed—ayes 64, nays 51.

The bill making appropriations for rebuilding sundry light houses, giving the same, surveying the coasts, &c, the bill from the Senate for the relief of Richard Mitchell; the bill for the relief of Thomas Miller and Stephen Baker; the bill for the relief of Samuel Manac, a half blood Creek Indian; the bill for the relief of Xavier Nant, were ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, with the exception of the bill for the relief of Miller and Baker, which was refused a third reading, and of course rejected—54 to 48.

The House refused, by a large majority, to consider the bill confirming to General Jackson, Corn-Hawkins, &c certain lands bestowed on them by the Creek Indians in the late treaty.

The House went into a committee of the whole, on the joint resolution for the relief of James M. M'Culloch, collector of the port of Baltimore, allowing an extra compensation to him and other collectors, whose emoluments were materially reduced by the operation of the restrictive system.

The resolution gave rise to a short debate, pecuniarily interesting, from the brief but eloquent narrative given by Mr. Pinkney of the gallantry of Mr. M'Culloch, who, though nearly 80 years of age, and exempted by years and by office from the toils of military service, yet shouldered his musket when the British approached Baltimore in 1814, entered the ranks as a private soldier, & was the foremost to meet the enemy at North Point, where he received a wound which renders him a cripple for life.

The resolution was also supported by Mr. Smith and Mr. Wright; and opposed by Mr. Sheffey and Mr. Grosvenor, not from any want of regard for the character and conduct of the petitioner; but on the ground of the impolicy of making good the reduced emoluments of the collectors, who took their offices with a foreknowledge of its precarious profits, and because it was in that character alone Mr. M'Culloch appeared before the House for relief.

The resolution was reported to the House without amendment, and laid on the table.

The House then went into a committee of the whole, on the bill to authorize the survey of two millions of acres of public land in lieu of that quantity heretofore authorized to be surveyed in the Michigan territory for certain purposes.

In discussing the provisions of this bill, the committee were some time engaged, and had not got through the consideration thereof; when, on motion, the committee rose, and the House adjourned.

IN SENATE.
Wednesday, April 17.

After disposing of other business, the Senate resumed the Tariff bill.

The motion under consideration when the Senate adjourned yesterday to reduce the duty on woollens from 25 to 20 per cent ad valorem, was negatived, after debate, by a large majority.

A motion to limit the continuance of the 25 per cent to one year, instead of three, was equally unsuccessful.

An attempt to reduce the duties on Salt from 20 to 12 1/2 cents failed.

Motion to confine the low duties on Teas to... The Senate adjourned before it had got through the bill.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Wednesday, April 17.

Mr. Pleasants from the committee on Naval Affairs, made an unfavorable report on the petition of John M'Cauley, prize agent for the officers and crew of the brig Vixen during the war with Tripoli; which was concurred in.

Mr. Pleasants from the same committee, reported a bill appropriating 2500 dollars to captain Stewart and crew of the Syren, for a capture during the war with Tripoli; also the bill authorizing the payment of a sum of money to John Rodgers; and also a bill authorizing the payment of a sum of money to Joseph Stewart and others.

Mr. Johnson of Ky. from the Military committee, reported a bill providing for lost military land warrants and discharges for faithful services.

The above bills were severally twice read and committed.

The Military committee were, on motion, discharged from the further consideration of the petitions of James M'Keon and Samuel Reaves.

Mr. Nelson of Va. from the Judiciary committee, made a report on the subject of the enquiry into the official conduct of Judge Tallmadge, of New-York, stating their reason to believe that evidence of importance in the enquiry could be obtained from the state of New-York, but which from the late period of the session it would be impossible to send for, and recommended a resolution to suspend all further enquiry into the matter until the next session of Congress; which report and resolution were laid on the table.

On motion of Mr. Stephenson the committee on Public Lands were instructed to enquire into the expediency of establishing an office for the sale of the public lands, in the town of Edwardsville, Illinois Territory.

On motion of Mr. Easton, a resolution was adopted, requesting the Secretary of the Treasury to procure all the information he may be enabled to obtain in relation to the lead mines of the United States in the counties of Washington and St. Genevieve, in Missouri territory, and report the same at the next session.

The following message was received from the President of the United States:

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States.

I lay before Congress copies of a convention concluded between the United States and the Cherokee Indians, on the 2d of March last, as the same has been duly ratified and proclaimed; and I recommend that such provisions be made by Congress as the stipulations therein contained may require.

JAMES MADISON.
April 6, 1816.

The message was referred to the committee of foreign relations.

The bill under discussion yesterday, when the House adjourned, to authorize the survey of two millions of acres of public land in lieu of that quantity ordered to be surveyed in Michigan territory, was, on motion, laid on the table.

The several bills yesterday ordered to a third reading this day, were accordingly read a third time and passed.

The bills concerning field officers of the militia; and the bill for the relief of David Coffin, David and William Rodman, and Samuel Rodman, jun. passed through committees of the whole house, and were ordered to a third reading.

The bill authorizing the Potomac Company to acquire certain lands by purchase and to dispose of water rights, was indefinitely postponed.

The house resolved itself into a committee of the whole, Mr. M'Kee in the chair, on the bill to allow the crew of the privateer Roger the legal bounty on 37 prisoners captured in a British vessel, after the treaty was ratified but within the time allowed for the continuance of hostilities in the latitude where the capture was made.

A motion made by Mr. Smith of Md. to make the provisions of the bill general, and embrace all similar captures, produced some debate, and was finally negatived.—The bill was reported to the House and ordered to a third reading.

SPECIE PAYMENTS.

The House then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, Mr. Nelson of Va. in the chair, on the bill providing for the collection of debts due to the government in the lawful money of the country—in other words to compel the banks to resume the payment of specie.

Mr. Calhoun took a succinct view of the bill, and recapitulated briefly the evils which demanded this measure.

Mr. Smith of Md. moved to strike out the 31st of December, and insert the 1st of February next, as the day on which the bill should go into operation which motion he supported at some length.

The motion gave rise to considerable debate, in which Messrs. Ward of Mass., Hopkinson, Tucker, Ingham, Robertson, Calhoun, Grosvenor, Sheffey and Wright took part—a view of which, as well as what followed on other points of the bill, shall be given as soon as practicable.

Mr. Smith's motion was finally negatived by a decided majority.

After an ineffectual attempt by Mr. Goldsborough to carry an amendment,

Mr. Sharp moved to revive and add again to the bill the 3d section, which had been withdrawn by the select committee, and which proposed to lay a stamp duty of 10 per cent. on the notes of banks failing to pay specie on the appointed day.

This motion also produced an animated debate of some length, in which it was advocated by the mover and Mr. Grosvenor, and opposed by Messrs. Barbour and Hopkinson. Mr. Clay also said a few words on the subject, in which he doubted the propriety of at present adopting so rigorous a measure. He was in favor of milder means; pledging himself, if they should not be effectual, to join in this act of severity at the next session.

Mr. Sharp then, after submitting his reasons therefor, withdrew his motion.

Mr. Ward of Mass. moved to carry the act into operation on the 1st of May next, instead of the 31st December.—Negatived by a large majority.

Mr. W. moved also an amendment, providing a graduated scale of value, by which the notes of certain banks should be received in payment; which motion was also negatived.

The committee then rose and reported the bill without amendment: when

Mr. Webster suggesting an amendment which he deemed necessary; but not having prepared...

day on No man. certain except one which goes to. the manufactured well imported from cent. ad valorem.

And motion was made by Mr. Gore to raise the duty still higher (to 25 cents) but was agreed.

A motion was made to strike out the. price of cotton goods, which was negatived by a large majority. That motion was afterwards renewed in substance by Mr. Harper, and was decided when the Senate adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Thursday, April 18.

Mr. Pleasants, a representative of the Commonwealth of Virginia, laid before the House, resolutions of the legislature of Virginia, disagreeing to the propositions of the states of Massachusetts and Connecticut to amend the constitution of the United States. and their agreement to the proposition of the state of North Carolina to establish a uniform mode of election of Electors and Representatives.

After reference of sundry petitions;

The Speaker laid before the House. a letter from William Pinkney, a representative from the state of Maryland, and, resigning his seat in the House, he having accepted the appointment of Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States to the Court of St. Petersburgh.

Mr. Lowndes, from the committee of ways and means, reported a bill for the relief of Col. George T. Ross, and Com. Daniel T. Patterson, and the officers and men under the command on the Mississippi. in the defence of New Orleans also a bill to allow drawback of duties on spirits distilled and sugar refined in the United States.

Mr. Tucker. from the District Committee, reported a bill to enable the Levy Court of the county of Alexandria, to lay a tax for the purpose of erecting a jail and court house.

Mr. Robertson. from the committee on public lands, reported a bill to establish a land district in the territory of Illinois north of the district of Kaskaskia,

Which bills were severally twice read and committed.

The Bills yesterday ordered to be read a third time to day, were severally read the third time and passed.

The engrossed bill to allow the privateer Roger the bounty for certain British prisoners, was read the third time.

Some debate again ensued on the propriety of awarding this bounty—Messrs. Gales, Lowndes and Cady opposed the bill., mainly on the ground that all the prisoners were, and of right ought to be free from the ratification of the treaty, agreeably to the terms thereof, and the usages of nations; that the prisoners were not desired by the United States after the war had terminated; and that there was in law or equity no title to the bounty on the part of the claimants, &c. The claim of the costs was advocated by Messrs. Sheffey, Nelson and Wright, who rested their support on the stipulations of the treaty, and our own law encouraging the capture of enemy seamen by offering a bounty therefor; arguing from the condemnation of the vessel, &c. that the capture was legal, and that the prisoners were as good prize as the vessel itself, which has been awarded to the captor. The debate took a wide scope, embracing points of the law of nations, the law of prize, &c.

The question on the passage of the bill. was decided in the affirmative, by the following vote:
For the passage 63
Against it 52

The bill providing for surveying two millions of acres of public land, in lieu of that quantity ordered to be surveyed in Michigan was taken up by the House, discussed and amended, and ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

SPECIE PAYMENTS.

The unfinished business of yesterday. the bill providing for collecting the debts due the United States in the lawful money of the country, being called by the Speaker;

Mr. Calhoun, stated that it was the wish of several gentlemen, that the bill should be laid on the table until to-morrow, it being in contemplation to bring in a resolution to authorize such an issue of Treasury Notes as would supply the deficiency of the circulating medium, which might be produced by the banks calling in their notes. and providing relief for the community, under the pressure which would consequently ensue. He therefore, moved to lay the bill for the present, on the table ; which motion was agreed to.

The bill providing an additional compensation for extra services, to the Judge of the Southern district of the state of N York passed through a committee of the whole, and was ordered to a third reading.

The bill from the Senate Concerning the entry of vessels at the port of Middletown and the bill concerning preemption right in Louisiana, Missouri and Illinois, severally passed through committees of the whole house ; and the Committee on the former obtained leave to sit again—the latter bill was ordered to lie on the table.

CAPITOL SQUARE.

The House then resolved itself into committee of the whole. on the bill making an appropriation for graduating, inclosing and improving the Capitol Square.

Mr. Tucker moved an additional section to the bill, providing for the appointment of one commissioner of the public buildings, instead of the three now in commission, and repealing the authority under which they were appointed ; and vesting in him the application of the present appropriation. superintendence of the improvements of the square, &c. with a salary of $2,000 per annum.

After considerable debate. in which Mr. Nelson opposed the motion, and Messrs. Tucker, Clay, Webster and Pickering. advocated it, the amendment was adopted.

Mr. Ingham moved to postpone the operation of the bill to the 1st of June, which was negatived : and Mr. Tucker proposed to increase the compensation of the commissioner to $3000, which was also negatived.

Mr. Wilde moved to incorporate a provision in the bill to authorize the President of the U. S. to cause to be sold, certain lots, the property of the U. States, within the city; the proceeds of the sale to constitute...

Mr. Tucker, by inserting a clause to it the commissioner, while serving as such, from holding or exercising any other office of trust or profit under the United States. Mr. Tucker then renewed his motion to increase the compensation of the commissioner, but without success.

The amendments of the committee, as amended, were concurred in by the House; and the question put on ordering the bill to a third reading; when,

Mr. Wright moved to strike out so much of the first section, as provided the appropriation for improving the Capitol Square.

The motion was opposed by Mr. Webster, and Mr. Wright replied, and asked for the yeas and nays on the question, which were refused by the House; after which the motion was rejected.

The bill was then ordered to be engrossed for a third reading to-morrow.

NAVIGATION BILL.

The House went into committee of the whole, on the bill to provide a system of navigation for the U. States.

The bill having been read through and no amendment being offered, the committee rose and reported it without amendment; when,

Mr. Forsyth, intimating that he wished to offer some amendments which the lateness of the hour did not this day permit, moved to lay the bill on the table until to-morrow; which was agreed to.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the President of the United States enclosing a report from the Secretary of State, in pursuance of a request of the House, exhibiting a table of the duties imposed on American articles in the British possessions of Canada and Nova Scotia; which letter, &c. were ordered to lie on the table and be printed.

After refusing to take up one or two bills, which were called up;

The House adjourned.