Mr. Marks presented the petition of G. T. Beyer, of Pennsylvania, praying to be indemnified for certain goods taken from the custom-house at St. Mary's, in Georgia, by the British, in January, 1815; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. On motion by Mr Johnson, of Kentucky, Ordered, That the petition of William Smith, presented at the last session, be referred to the Committee on Finance. Mr. Hendricks presented the petition of John Duly, praying that his right of pre-emption to a tract of land in Louisiana may be confirmed; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. Woodbury presented the petition of John C. Herbert, of Maryland, praying to be released from the payment of a judgment obtained against him by the United States; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The President communicated the petition of Samuel Angus, requesting the attention of the Senate to his memorials heretofore presented; which was read. The President communicated a letter from the Commissioner of the General Land Office, transmitting a report from the Land Officers at St. Augustine, in Florida, prepared in obedience to a resolution of the Senate of the 25th April last. The letter was read; and Ordered, That it be printed. Mr. Tyler presented the petition of Thomas Maund, legal representative of George Repold, deceased, and the petition of C. McKinzie, for Ebenezer Stott, & Co., severally praying to be indemnified for losses sustained by French spoliations, prior to the year 1800; and Ordered, That they be referred to the select committee, appointed on the 8th instant, on that subject. Mr. Marks presented the petition of Joseph Sims, surviving partner of Woodrop and Sims, praying to be indemnified for losses sustained by French spoliations, prior to the year 1800; and Ordered, That it be referred to the last mentioned committee. On motion by Mr. Marks, Ordered, That Benjamin Wells have leave to withdraw his petition and papers, presented at the last session. Agreeably to notice given Mr. Robbins asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill prescribing the modes of commencing, prosecuting, and deciding controversies between States. The said bill was read twice, by unanimous consent, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Agreeably to notice given Mr. Marks asked and obtained leave, to bring in a bill to provide for the purchase and distribution of certain copies of the Digest of the Laws of the United States, by Thomas F. Gordon; which was read twice, by unanimous consent, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Agreeably to notice given Mr. Foot asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill to allow a salary to the Marshal of the district of Connecticut; which was read; and Ordered, That it pass to a second reading. The following motion, submitted by Mr. Hendricks, was considered and agreed to: Resolved, That a select committee, to consist of five members, be appointed on the subject of Roads and Canals, with leave to report by bill or otherwise. Ordered, That Mr. Hendricks, Mr. King, Mr. Tyler, Mr. Kane, and Mr. McLane, be the Committee. to: The following motion, submitted by Mr. Eaton, was considered and agreed Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs inquire into the necessity and propriety of adding to the present number of Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons of the Army; and whether their present compensation should not be so arranged, as to have reference to the length of time any one of them may have been in service, or shall hereafter continue in service. The bill to authorize a subscription for stock on the part of the United States, in the Louisville and Portland Canal Company, was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Select Committee on Roads and Canals. On motion by Mr. Hendricks. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill for the continuation of the Cumberland road; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Select Committee on roads and Canals. On motion by Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill for the preservation and repair of the Cumberland road; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Select Committee on Roads and Canals. On motion by Mr. Benton, The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the resolution for the care and preservation of the Cumberland road, and of other roads, made or to be made by the federal government within the limits of the different States; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Select Committee on Roads and Canals. On motion by Mr. Eaton, Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns, it be to Monday next. After the consideration of executive business, The Senate adjourned. MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1828. Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, presented the petition of the inhabitants of the Territory of Michigan, praying for a donation of land, to aid in the erection of a poor-house and hospital; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. Johnston, of Louisiana, presented the memorial of William W. Montgomery, stating that he became surety of Michael Reynolds, late Marshal of the United States for the District of Louisiana, who died insolvent, and in arrears to several individuals in his official capacity, for which said surety has been compelled to account; and that by a settlement of the accounts of the deceased, in his character of Marshal, a considerable balance appears at the Treasury in his favor, which the memorialist prays may be paid to him, as an indemnity for his losses; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Johnston, of Louisiana, presented the petition of Simeon Knight, praying that his accounts, as a Paymaster in the Army, may be settled upon principles of equity; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Johnston, of Louisiana, presented the petition of James D. Spurlock, executor of Stephen Tippet, Sen., deceased, praying for a confirmation of the title of the deceased to a tract of land in Louisiana, derived from the Spanish government; and He presented the petition of Pierre Leglise, praying for a confirmation of his title to a tract of land in Louisiana; and Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims. Mr. Johnston, of Louisiana, presented the memorial of the inhabitants of the northern part of the parish of Natchitoches, in Louisiana, who have settled upon, and improved portions of the public lands, praying that the right of pre-emption may be extended to them; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. Johnston, of Louisiana, presented the memorial of the representatives of the sureties of William Gibbes, late a Paymaster in the Army of the United States, praying that certain moneys paid by them in satisfaction of judgments erroneously entered against them in the eastern district of Louisiana, may be refunded; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Ruggles presented the petition of sundry citizens of Ohio, praying that provision may be made for opening and making the road from Lower Sandusky to Greenville, which was provided for in the treaty made with the Indians at Brownstown, on the 25th November, 1808; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Select Committee on Roads and Canals. On motion by Mr. Hayne, Ordered, That the petition of Elihu Hall Bay, with the accompanying documents, presented at the last session, be referred to the Committee on Public Lands. On motion by Mr. Hayne, Ordered, That the memorial of Susan Decatur, with the accompanying documents, presented to the Senate at the last session, be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. Mr. Kane presented the memorial of sundry citizens of Illinois, who were engaged in the expedition, conducted in 1778 and 1779, under Col. George Rogers Clark, on the northwestern frontier, praying for compensation in land or money for their services and sacrifices; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims. Mr. Hendricks presented the memorial of the General Assembly of Indiana, praying that an appropriation may be made for the removal of the timber from the route of the Cumberland road through that State; and He presented a joint resolution of the same Assembly, relative to the western mail route from Louisville, in Kentucky, to St. Louis, in Missouri; and Ordered, That the memorial and resolution be referred to the Select Committee on Roads and Canals. Mr. Seymour presented the memorial of John S. Stiles, of Baltimore, complaining of the execution of a law of the 3d March, 1825, passed for his relief, and praying for redress; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Barton presented the memorial of the General Assembly of Missouri, praying that speedy and decisive measures may be adopted by Congress for the settlement of private land claims in that State, derived from French and Spanish grants; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims. Mr. Woodbury presented the petition of David Stone, of New Hampshire, praying for compensation for services rendered and losses sustained in the northern frontier during the late war; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. Rowan presented the petition of John Keating, for the heirs of the late John Bowers; and Mr. Sanford presented the petition of Judah Hays, severally praying to be indemnified for French spoliations, committed prior to the year 1800; and Ordered, That they be referred to the Select Committee appointed the 8th instant, on that subject. Mr. White, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was referred the bill for the relief of sundry citizens of the United States, who have lost property by the depredations of certain Indian tribes, reported it without amendment. Mr. Benton, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom were referred the bill explanatory of an act entitled "An act to reduce and fix the military peace establishment of the United States," passed March 2d, 1821; and The bill for the relief of John Smith T. and Wilson P. Hunt; reported them severally without amendment. Mr. Barton, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom were referred the bill to authorize the President of the United States to cause the reserved Salt Springs in the State of Missouri, to be exposed to public sale; and The bill to authorize the President of the United States to cause the reserved Lead Mines, in the State of Missouri, to be exposed to public sale; reported them with an amendment to the latter bill, which was read. Mr. Barton, from the Committee on Public Lands, reported a bill restricting the location of certain land claims in the Territory of Arkansas, and for other purposes; which was read; and Ordered, That it pass to a second reading. Mr. King, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill confirming the reports of the Register and Receiver of the Land Office for the district of St. Stephens, in the State of Alabama, and for other purposes; reported it without amendment. Mr. Chandler, from the Committee on the Militia, reported a bill providing for the printing and binding of sixty thousand copies of the Abstract of Infantry Tactics, including Exercises and Manoeuvres of Light Infantry and Riflemen, and for other purposes; which was read; and Ordered, That it pass to a second reading. Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, from the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, to whom was referred the bill for the relief of Nathaniel Patten; reported it without amendment. The following motions, submitted by Mr. Woodbury, were considered and agreed to: Resolved, That the Committee on Finance be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reducing the duties imposed on imported coffee and teas. Resolved, That the same committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency of allowing a drawback on the exportation of nails, spirits, and cordage, when manufactured here from foreign materials. The following motion, submitted by Mr. Barton, was considered and agreed to: Resolved, That the Select Committee on Roads and Canals be instructed to inquire into the expediency of granting to the State of Missouri, a portion of the public lands along the road marked out from Cape Girardeau to Clay Court-house, to aid in making that road. The following motion, submitted by Mr. Benton, was considered: Resolved, That the Committee on Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the construction which has been given to the 8th section of the act of Congress of the 28th of May last, making donations of land to such settlers in the Arkansas Territory as should be left without the Territory on the running of the new line; and to report whether any legislative act is necessary to secure to any part of said settlers the benefit of the donation intend ed for them by said act. On motion by Mr. Benton, Ordered, That it lie on the table. The bill to allow a salary to the Marshal of the District of Connecticut, was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Agreeably to notice given, Mr. Eaton asked and obtained leave to bring in a resolution amendatory of a joint resolution passed 3d of March, 1819; which was read; and Ordered, That it pass to a second reading. The Senate then adjourned. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1828. Mr. Bell presented the petition of William Shaw, and others, of New Hampshire, praying to be indemnified for losses sustained by French spoliations, committed prior to the year 1800; and Ordered, That it be referred to the select committee appointed the 8th instant, on the subject. Mr. Bell presented the petition of Caleb Stark, an officer of the army of the Revolution, praying to be paid the depreciation of his pay for services during the Revolutionary war; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. Seymour presented the petition of the legal representatives of Benjamin W. Hopkins, late of Alabama, deceased, praying to be remunerated for losses sustained by the deceased, in his life-time, in consequence of the failure of the United States to carry into effect the stipulations of a contract made with him to build a fort at or near Mobile Point; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. Barnard presented the memorial of Eleanor Simpson, widow of George Simpson, late of Philadelphia, deceased, praying to be paid the usual commission due to the deceased, for obtaining subscriptions to the United States' loan of 1813; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Finance. |