Mr. Hendricks presented the petition of John H. Davis, who intermarried with Nancy Burnett, an Indian woman of the Potawatamie tribe, praying for the grant of a half section of land; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

The President presented the petition of Clement Sewall, of the District of Columbia, praying to be paid the commutation for half pay to which he is entitled, as an Ensign in the army of the Revolution; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Johnston, of Louisiana, presented the memorial of the Legislature of Louisiana, praying that the right of pre-emption may be granted to actual settlers on the public lands; that the present price of the lands may be graduated and reduced or a delay given for payment; that a tribunal may be established to adjust titles to land claimed under Spanish grants; and that lands may be granted to the State for the promotion of education; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Public Lands, and printed.

Mr. Barnard presented the memorial of the American Convention for promoting the abolition of slavery, held at Baltimore, praying that slavery may be abolished in the District of Columbia; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. Tazewell presented the memorial of Thomas Griffin, administrator of Lawrence Gibbons, deceased, praying to be released from the payment of a judgment obtained against him by the United States, in the district of Virginia; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

The following motion, submitted by Mr. Chandler, was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency and propriety of raising the salary of the District Judge for the district of Maine.

The following motion, submitted by Mr. White, was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the propriety and necessity of so amending the judicial system of the United States, as to place all the States in a similar situation; and furnish to the citizens of each an equal opportunity of having a due administration of justice.

The following motion, submitted by Mr. Robbins, was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, to inquire into and report upon the expediency of amending the act passed the 23d May, A. D. 1828, entitled "An act to provide for extending the term of certain pensions, chargeable on the Navy and Privateer pension fund," so as to extend the provisions of that act to cases under the two following acts, namely: the act passed the 9th April, 1824, entitled "An act extending the term of pensions granted to persons disabled, and to the widows and orphans of those who have been slain, or who have died in consequence of wounds and casualties received while in their line of duty on board of the private armed ships of the United States, during the late war;" and the act passed the 26th May, 1824, entitled "An act to revive and extend the term of certain pensions which have expired by limitation."

On motion by Mr. Woodbury,

Ordered, That the memorial of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, presented on the 11th instant, be printed.

The resolution amendatory of a joint resolution, passed 3d of March, 1819, was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and Mr. Knight offered an amendment thereto, which was read; and On motion by Mr. Eaton,

Ordered, That the resolution and amendment lie on the table, and be printed.

Mr. McKinley presented the petition of John McCartney, of Alabama, praying to be paid for eighteen head of cattle taken from him by an officer of the United States, in 1817; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. White communicated a letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting to the Committee on Indian Affairs, a list of claims preferred by citizens of the United States, for losses sustained by the depredations of the Osage Indians; and

Ordered, That the letter and accompanying papers be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Mr. Sanford presented the petition of Ezra St. John, of New York, praying for indemnity for property destroyed by the enemy during the late war; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Claims.

On motion by Mr. Ruggles,

Ordered, That the petition of Alexander Mactier, of Baltimore, presented to the Senate at the last session, be referred to the Committee of Claims. Agreeably to notice given, Mr. Noble asked and obtained leave to bring in the following bills, viz:

A bill for the relief of sundry revolutionary and other officers and soldiers, and for other purposes; and

A bill for the relief of sundry officers, soldiers, and widows; which were severally read; and

Ordered, That they pass to a second reading.

Agreeably to notice given, Mr. Silsbee asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill, making an appropriation for the erection of a breakwater, near the island of Nantucket; which was read; and

Ordered, That it pass to a second reading.

Agreeably to notice given, Mr. Johnston, of Louisiana, asked and obtained leave to bring in the following bills, viz:

A bill to authorize the legal representatives of the Marquis de Maison Rouge, and those claiming under him, to institute a suit against the United States, and for other purposes;

A bill to authorize the purchase of a site, and the erection of barracks, in the vicinity of New Orleans.

A bill to establish a port of entry at St. Marks, in Florida; and

A bill authorizing the establishment of an arsenal at or near Pensacola, in Florida; which bills were severally read; and

Ordered, That they pass to a second reading.

Mr. Berrien, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the petition of John Culbertson, reported a bill for the relief of John Culbertson, and for the payment of an interpreter for the District Court of

the United States, for the Eastern District in Louisiana; which was read; and

Ordered, That it pass to a second reading.

Mr. Berrien, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom the subject was referred, by a resolution of the Senate of the 10th instant, made a report, accompanied by the following resolutions:

Resolved, That Jefferson's Manual, the Treasury Reports, and Executive Journal, printed by order of the Senate, be distributed by the Secretary in the following manner, viz: of Jefferson's Manual, one copy to the President of the United States; one copy to the Governor of each State and Territory of the Union; one copy to the President and Speaker, respectively, of the Senate and House of Representatives in each of the said States and Territories; one copy to each of the said Legislative bodies; one copy to each member of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States; five copies to the Secretary of the Senate; ten copies to the Clerk of the House of Representatives; two copies to the Sergeant-atArms of the Senate, to be kept in the Senate Chamber; and one copy to each Standing Committee of the Senate:-Of the Executive Journal, one copy to the President of the United States; one copy to the Governor of each State and Territory of the Union; one copy to the President and Speaker, respectively, of the Senate and House of Representatives in each of the said States and Territories; one copy to each of the said Legislative bodies; one copy to each member of the Senate and of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States; ten copies to the State Department of the United States; one copy to each of the other Heads of Departments, respectively; five copies to the Secretary of the Senate; ten copies to the Clerk of the House of Representatives; two copies to the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate, to be kept in the Senate Chamber; and one copy to each of the Standing Committees of the Senate:-Of the Treasury Reports, one copy to the President of the United States; one copy to the Governor of each State and Territory of the Union; one copy to the President and Speaker, respectively, of the Senate and House of Representatives, in each of the said States and Territories; one copy to each of the said Legislative bodies; one copy to each member of the Senate and of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States; ten copies to the Treasury Department of the United States; one copy to each of the other Heads of Departments, respectively; five copies to the Secretary of the Senate; ten copies to the Clerk of the House of Representatives; two copies to the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate, to be kept in the Senate Chamber; and one copy to each of the Standing Committees of the Senate.

Be it further Resolved, That one copy of each of the aforesaid works, be given to each member of the Senate and House of Representatives of the next Congress, who shall not previously have received one; and that the remainder be retained by the Secretary, subject to the future disposal of the Senate.

The report and resolutions were read.

Agreeably to notice given, Mr. Benton asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill to encourage the discovery and working of certain copper mines, supposed to be on the south side of Lake Superior; which was read; and Ordered, That it pass to a second reading

A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Clarke, their Clerk:

Mr. President: The House of Representatives have passed a bill, entitled "An act extending the term within which merchandise may be exported with the benefit of drawback;" and a bill, entitled "An act for the relief of John B. Lemaitre, Jun."

The said bills were severally read; and

Ordered, That they pass to a second reading.

The bill restricting the location of certain land claims in the Territory of Arkansas, and for other purposes, was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and no amendment having been proposed, it was reported to the Senate; and,

On the question, "Shall this bill be engrossed and read a third time?” It was determined in the affirmative.

The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill for the relief of sundry citizens of the United States, who have lost property by the depredations of certain Indian tribes; and no amendment having been proposed, it was reported to the Senate; and,

On the question, "Shall this bill be engrossed and read the third time?” It was determined in the affirmative.

After the consideration of Executive business,

The bill providing for the printing and binding sixty thousand copies of the Abstract of Infantry Tactics, including Exercises and Manœuvres of Light Infantry and Riflemen, and for other purposes, was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and,

On motion by Mr. Chandler,

The Senate adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1828.

Mr. Silsbee presented the memorial of the merchants of Boston, on the subject of a general revision of the revenue laws, and particularly in relation to the credit system; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Commerce, and printed

Mr. Chambers presented the petition of Paca Smith, administrator of Mark Pringle, deceased, praying to be indemnified for losses sustained by French spoliations, prior to the year 1800; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Select Committee, appointed the 8th instant, on that subject.

On motion by Mr. Chambers,

Ordered, That the several petitions presented to the Senate at the last session, on the subject of French spoliations, be referred to the last mentioned committee.

Mr. Sanford presented the petition of John Daly, stating that, at the time of the invasion of Canada by the troops of the United States, he was a British subject residing there, and possessed of a considerable real and per sonal estate, consisting chiefly of dwelling-houses and merchandise, in the village of Newark; that he devoted his property, as well as his personal influence, to promote the success of that enterprise; that when the troops left Fort George they burnt Newark, whereby he lost his buildings and all his personal property; that the British authorities afterwards confiscated all his real estate; and that, in consequence of these losses, he is now reduced to penury and want; and prays for relief; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Benton presented the petition of William Kelly, Attorney of John

Smith T., proposing to relinquish to the United States the claim of said Smith to certain lands in Alabama, upon equitable terms; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.. Agreeably to notice given, Mr. Dickerson asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill to provide for the distribution of a part of the revenues of the United States among the several States; which was read; and

Ordered, That it pass to a second reading.

Mr. Hayne, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the petition of Susan Decatur, reported a bill to compensate Susan Decatur, widow and representative of Captain Stephen Decatur, deceased, and others; which was read; and

Ordered, That it pass to a second reading.

Mr. Hayne, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported a bill to amend an act, entitled "An act for the better organization of the Medical Department of the Navy," approved 24th May, 1828; 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 for the relief of Henry Case, reported it without amendment.

Agreeably to notice given, Mr. King asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill authorizing the relinquishment of the sixteenth sections, granted for the use of schools, in the State of Alabama, and the entry of other lands in lieu thereof; 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 Public Lands.

On motion by Mr. Hayne, and by unanimous consent,

Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of increasing the compensation of the officers of the United States' Courts for the District of South Carolina.

Resolved, That the Committee on Finance be instructed to inquire into the expediency of increasing the compensation of the officers of the Customs for the district of South Carolina.

On motion by Mr. Noble, and by unanimous consent,

Resolved, That the Committee on Pensions be instructed to inquire into the expediency of amending the pension laws, that Congress may be enabled to place such applicants for pension on the list as shall be found entitled to the privilege, with promptness, and to do justice to such applicants. The following motion, submitted by Mr. Kane, was considered:"

Resolved, That the Select Committee on Roads and Canals be instructed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing the issuing of certificates, receivable in payment for public lands in the State of Illinois, for the purpose of repairing and improving the road from Vincennes, in Indiana, to St. Louis, in Missouri.

On motion by Mr. Benton,

The resolution was amended by adding thereto the following:

And also, for a like issue of certificates, receivable in payment of public lands in the State of Missouri, for improving the great western mail route from St. Louis to Liberty, in Clay county, in said State.

On motion by Mr. Hendricks,

The resolution, as amended, was further amended by inserting the following at the end thereof:

And also, to inquire into the expediency of an appropriation (in money or scrip, receivable in payment for public lands,) for the purpose of improving the mail road from Louisville to Vincennes,