Mr. CAMPBELL moved to add a clause (substantially) to include in the receivable paper, the notes of all banks which shall pay their notes on demand in the legal currency of the United States; which was agreed to. On the question, "Shall the amendments be engrossed, and the resolution read a third time as amended?" it was determined in the affirmative-yeas 19, nays 11, as follows: YEAS.-Messrs. Barry, Bibb, Campbell, Chace, Condit, Daggett, Dana, Fromentin, Gaillard, Harper, Howell, Macon, Mason of Virginia, Sanford, Tait, Tichenor, Turner, Varnum, and Williams. NAYS-Messrs. Barbour, Goldsborough, Gore, King, Lacock, Mason of New Hampshire, Morrow, Roberts, Ruggles, Wells, and Wilson. TUESDAY, April 30. Reward to Faithful Attendants. Mr. LACOCK submitted the following resolution: [SENATE. And the resolution was three times read by unanimous consent and passed. Mr. VARNUM reported from the joint committee that they had waited on the President of the United States, who informed them that he had no further communication to make to the two Houses of Congress. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House, having finished the business before them, are about to adjourn. Ordered, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives that the Senate, having finished the Legislative business before them, are about to adjourn. Whereupon, the PRESIDENT adjourned the Senate sine die. MONDAY, December 4, 1815. This being the day appointed by the Constitution of the United States for the meeting of Congress, the following members of the House of Representatives appeared, produced their credentials, and took their seats, to wit: From New Hampshire-Charles H. Atherton, Bradbury Cilley, Roger Vose, and Jeduthun Wilcox. From Massachusetts-William Baylies, George Bradbury, Elijah Brigham, Benjamin Brown, Samuel S. Conner, John W. Hulbert, Cyrus King, Jeremiah Nelson, Albion K. Parris, Timothy Pickering, John Reed, Thomas Rice, Nathaniel Ruggles, and Solomon Strong. From Rhode Island-John L. Boss, junior. Rhode Island.-John L. Boss, jr., James B. Mason. Connecticut.-Epaphroditus Champion, John Davenport, jr., Lyman Law, Jonathan O. Mosely, Timothy Pitkin, Lewis B. Sturges, Benjamin Tallmadge. Vermont.-Daniel Chipman, Luther Jewett, Chauncey Langdon, Asa Lyon, John Noyes, Charles Marsh. New York.-Samuel R. Betts, James Birdsall, Micajah Brooks, Asa Adgate, Victory Birdseye, Oliver C. Comstock, Henry Crocheron, Daniel Cady, Thomas R. Gold, Thomas P. Grosvenor, Jabez B. Hammond, Moses Kent, John Lovett, Hosea Moffitt, Peter B. Porter, John Savage, Abraham H. Schenck, John W. Taylor, George Townsend, Enos T. Throop, Jonathan Ward, Westel Willoughby, jr., James W. Wilkin, Peter H. Wendover, John B. Yates. From Connecticut-Epaphroditus Champion, John Davenport, jun., Lyman Law, Jonathan O. Mosely, and Lewis B. Sturges. Chauncey Langdon, Asa Lyon, Charles Marsh, and From New York-Samuel R. Betts, James Birdsall, From New Jersey-Ezra Baker, Ephraim Bateman, and Henry Southard. From Pennsylvania-William Crawford, William Darlington, John Hahn, Joseph Heister, Joseph Hop Delaware.-Thomas Cooper, Thomas Clayton. Virginia.-Philip P. Barbour, Burwell Bassett, James Gholson, Peterson Goodwyn, Aylett Hawes, John P. HunBreckenridge, William A. Burwell, John Clopton, Thomas gerford, James Johnson, John G. Jackson, John Kerr, Joseph Lewis, jr., William McCoy, Hugh Nelson, Thomas Newton, James Pleasants, jr., John Randolph, William H. North Carolina.-Joseph H. Bryan, James W. Clarke, South Carolina.-John C. Calhoun, John J. Chappell, Benjamin Huger, William Lowndes, William Mayrant, Henry Middleton, Thomas Moore, John Taylor, William Woodward. Georgia.-Alfred Cuthbert, Bolling Hall, John Forsyth, Wilson Lumpkin, Thomas Telfair, Richard Henry Wilde. Kentucky.-James Clark, Henry Clay, Joseph Desha, New Jersey-Ezra Baker, Benjamin Bennett, Ephraim Benjamin Hardin, Richard M. Johnson, Alney McLean, Bateman, Lewis Condict, Henry Southard, Thomas Ward. Samuel McKee, Stephen Ormsby, Solomon P. Sharpe, Micah Taul. Tennessee.-William G. Blount, Newton Cannon, Bennett H. Henderson, Samuel Powell, James B. Reynolds, Isaac Thomas. Ohio.-John Alexander, James Caldwell, David Clen- DECEMBER, 1815.] The New Building. [H. OF R. kinson, Samuel D. Ingham, Aaron Lyle, William | ed, by the SPEAKER, to all the other members Maclay, William Milnor, William Piper, Thomas present. Smith, James Wallace, John Whiteside, Thomas Wilson, and William Wilson. From Delaware-Thomas Cooper. WILLIAM LATTIMORE, from the Mississippi Territory; JONATHAN JENNINGS, from the Indiana Territory; and BENJAMIN STEPHENSON, from the Illinois Territory, having also appear From Maryland-John C. Herbert, Philip Stuart, and Robert Wright. From Virginia-Philip P. Barbour, James Breck-ed and produced their credentials as delegates enridge, William A. Burwell, Thomas Gholson, Pe- to represent the said Territories in the fourterson Goodwyn, Aylett Hawes, John P. Hungerford, teenth Congress, the said oath was administered Joseph Lewis, jun., William McCoy, Hugh Nelson, to them by the SPEAKER, when they took their Thomas Newton, James Pleasants, jun., William H. seats. Roane, Ballard Smith, Magnus Tate, and Henry St. George Tucker. From North Carolina-Joseph H. Bryan, James W. Charles, John Culpeper, Nathaniel Macon, William H. Murfree, Richard Stanford, Lewis Williams, and Bartlett Yancey. From South Carolina-John C. Calhoun, John J. Chappell, William Lowndes, William Mayrant, Henry Middleton, Thomas Moore, John Taylor, and Wil The House proceeded to elect a Clerk, when it appeared that of one hundred and twenty-two votes, THOMAS DOUGHERTY, Esq., had one hundred and fourteen, and was, therefore, duly elected. On motion of Mr. WRIGHT, after some little discussion, it was Resolved, That Thomas Dunn be appointed Sergeant at Arms; Thomas Claxton, DoorFrom Georgia-John Forsyth, Bolling Hall, Wil-keeper; and Benjamin Burch, Assistant Doorkeeper to this House. liam Woodward. son Lumpkin, and Richard Henry Wilde. From Kentucky-James Clark, Henry Clay, Joseph Desha, Richard M. Johnson, Alney McLean, Stephen Ormsby, Solomon P. Sharpe, and Micah Taul. From Tennessee-Newton Cannon, Bennett H. Henderson, Samuel Powell, James B. Reynolds, and Isaac Thomas. From Ohio-John Alexander, James Caldwell, David Clendenin, William Creighton, jun., and John McLean. From Louisiana-Thomas B. Robertson. TUESDAY, December 5. Several other members, to wit: from Pennsylvania, JARED IRWIN; from Maryland, GEORGE BAER; from Virginia, JAMES JOHNSON, JOHN KERR, and DANIEL SHEFFEY; and from North Carolina, WILLIAM GASTON and DANIEL M. FORNEY, appeared, produced their credentials, were qualified, and took their seats. Mr. WRIGHT, from the joint committee apA quorum, consisting of a majority of the pointed yesterday to wait on the President of whole number of members, being present, the the United States, reported that the committee House proceeded, by ballot, to the choice of a had performed that service, and that the PresSpeaker, and, upon examining the ballots, it ap-ident answered that he would make a compeared that HENRY CLAY, one of the Represent- munication to the two Houses to-day, at twelve atives for the State of Kentucky, was duly o'clock. elected: Whereupon, Mr. CLAY was conducted to the Speaker's Chair, and the oath to support the Constitution of the United States, as prescribed by the act, entitled "An act to regulate the time and manner of administering certain oaths," was administered to him by Mr. WRIGHT, one of the members for the State of Maryland; after which he made his acknowledgments to the House in the following words: A message was then received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, which was read, and referred to the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union. [For this Message see Senate proceedings of this date, ante page 442.] WEDNESDAY, December 6. Several other members, to wit: from New Jersey, LEWIS CONDICT; from Pennsylvania, JOHN SERGEANT, and from North Carolina, WILLIAM C. LOVE, appeared, produced their credentials, were qualified, and repaired to their seats. THURSDAY, December 7. "GENTLEMEN: It is not merely in compliance with a respectful usage, but from the most profound gratitude, that I thank you for the honor which you have just conferred on me. I shall find, in the discharge of the arduous duties of the Chair, considerable alleviation, from the natural progress of the system of order, and from the improvement which it has received un- Several other members, to wit: from Massader the able presidency of my predecessor. But, gen-chusetts, SAMUEL TAGGART and LABAN WHEAtlemen, it is chiefly upon your liberal co-operation TON; from New York, ASA ADGATE; and from and support that I place my reliance. Under the ex- Pennsylvania, HUGH GLASGOW, appeared, propectation of receiving this, I shall proceed, with all duced their credentials, were qualified, and took the impartiality of which I am capable, to the execution of the duties which you have assigned me, soliciting your indulgence for unintentional error, and soliciting it particularly during my present indisposi tion." their seats. The New Building. Mr. LowDNES, from the committee on the subject, delivered in the following report: The oath or affirmation to support the Con"The committee appointed on the part of the House stitution of the United States, as prescribed by of Representatives to inquire, in conjunction with a the act above mentioned, was then administer-committee on the part of the Senate, into the state of VOL. V.-31 H. OF R] Settlers in Missouri. [DECEMBER, 1815. WESTEL WILLOUGHBY, jr., from New York, who was, on yesterday, declared duly elected a member of this House, in the place of William S. Smith, also appeared, was qualified, and took his seat. The SPEAKER laid before the House the fol lowing letter from Mr. MACON, of North Caro lina: the new building on Capitol Hill, offered by the pro- | Moss KENT; from Delaware, THOMAS CLAYTON, prietors for the accommodation of Congress, upon and from Pennsylvania, ISAAC GRIFFIN, appearwhat terms the said building could be obtained until ed, produced their credentials, were qualified, the Capitol may be ready for their reception, report: and took their seats. That, having examined the building in question, they consider it much better adaped to the convenience of both Houses of Congress than that they at present occupy. The committee appointed by the owners of the building, have represented it as having cost (with the land attached to it) thirty thousand dollars, five of which has been expended on objects necessary for the accommodation of Congress, which will become useless when they shall leave the building. This committee have stated that the proprietors will be fully satisfied to enter into a contract with the United States under which they shall receive $5,000, with an annual rent of $1,650, (being an interest upon their capital of six per cent., with the addition of the price of insurance,) making the lease determinable at the pleasure of Congress. Should these terms be acceded to by Congress, the committee believe that the building will be ready for their reception on Monday next. The terms appear to the committee of both Houses to be equitable, and they have submitted a bill to carry them into effect." Mr. LOWNDES then reported a bill to authorize the President of the United States to lease, on the terms therein mentioned, "the new building on Capitol Hill, with the appurtenances, for the better accommodation of Congress;' which was twice read, referred to a Committee of the Whole, passed through a Committee of the Whole, engrossed, and read a third time, and sent to the Senate for concurrence. Chaplain to the House. The House proceeded to ballot for a Chaplain on its part to serve during the session; when, after several ballotings, the Rev. SPENCER H. CONE, having a majority of votes, was declared to be duly elected. MONDAY, December 11. To the Speaker of the House of Representatives : members of the House, that I have this day, by letSIR: I deem it my duty to inform you and the ter to the Governor of North Carolina, resigned my seat in the House of Representatives. I cannot withdraw from those with whom I have been associated for years without expressing the grateful sense I entertain of their uniform kindness, and assuring them that it will be remembered with pleasure during my life. I am, sir, your obedient servant, WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 1815. Settlers in Missouri. Mr. EASTON moved the following resolution: Resolved, That the Committee on the Public Lands be instructed to inquire whether any, and if any, what alterations and amendments are necessary to be made in the law giving the right of pre-emption to settlers on the public lands in the Territory of Missouri. amend the same by adding thereto the words, A motion was made by another gentleman to and also in the Territories of Illinois and Indi Upon which motion Mr. EASTON observed, that the law giving the right of pre-emption to the settlers on the public lands in the Illinois Territory had been amended at the last session. He was not, howSeveral other members, to wit: from New ever, opposed to the proposed inquiry; that York, PETER B. PORTER; from Pennsylvania, the object of the resolution offered by him was THOMAS BURNSIDE; from Maryland, STEVENSON to place those settlers on the public lands in AROHER; from Virginia, JOHN CLOPTON; from the Missouri Territory upon a similar footing North Carolina, WILLIAM R. KING and ISRAEL to such settlers on the Illinois Territory; that PICKENS; from South Carolina, BENJAMIN HU-the law of Congress of April 12, 1814, gave to GER; and from Georgia, ALFRED CUTHBERT and THOMAS TELFAIR, appeared, produced their credentials, were qualified, and took their seats. RUFUS EASTON also appeared and took his seat, as the delegate for the Territory of Mis souri. TUESDAY, December 12. WEDNESDAY, December 13. Several other members, to wit: from Massachusetts, ELIJAH H. MILLS; from New York, the settlers on the public lands, in the Territory of Missouri, the right of pre-emption in the purchase thereof upon the same terms as is granted to settlers of the like description in the Illinois Territory, by the act of the 5th of February, 1813, which had been amended at the last session of Congress. By a reference to the last-mentioned act of Congress, it would be found that no person can purchase, under the Provision of the act, more than one quarter section of land, and that to be bounded by the Sectional and quarter sectional lines; that by those acts of Congress, no provision has been made in favor of settlers upon fractional sections, of less quantity than one hundred and sixty acres, and fractional quarter sections; that by the general provisions inade by law, the officers of the land offices are prohibited to 66 [H. OF R. Resolved," and inserting the following, in lieu thereof: "That the Committee on Public Lands be instruct much of the land lying in the State of Tennessee, known by the name of the Congressional Reservation,' as may be sufficient to extinguish the claims under land warrants issued by the State of North Carolina, agreeably to the third section of an act of Congress of the 18th of April, 1806, entitled 'An act to authorize the State of Tennessee to issue grants and to settle claims to the vacant and unappropriated and perfect titles to certain lands therein described, land within the same.'" sell lands in less quantity than tracts of one hundred and sixty acres; that in the Indiana Territory the lands had been surveyed, and the settlers then located themselves within certained to inquire into the expediency of appropriating so known boundaries; that it was not so in Missouri Territory, where the private claims to land had been adjusting for more than twelve years, and the public lands are not yet surveyed; many persons had settled under Spanish grants, some of which had been anulled by the Government; that among the numerous private claims there would be found a great many fractional sections and fractional quarters of less quantity than one hundred and sixty acres, upon which persons are settled; and the object of the resolution offered by him was to secure to each settler on the public lands his improvement in that Territory. The amendment was adopted and the resolution agreed to. FRIDAY, December 15. Another member, to wit, from Virginia, JOHN G. JACKSON, appeared, produced his credentials, was qualified, and took his seat. MONDAY, December 18. Several other members, to wit: from the State of New York, THOMAS B. GROSVENOR and JOHN B. YATES, and from the State of Pennsylvania, JOHN Ross, appeared, produced their credentials, were qualified, and took their seats. WEDNESDAY, December 20. Two other members, to wit: from New York, VICTORY BIRDSEYE, and from Kentucky, SAMUEL MCKEE, appeared, produced their credentials, were qualified, and took their seats. THURSDAY, December 21. Mr. YANCEY supported his motion, by showing how the interest of North Carolina would be injuriously affected by the passage of the resolution in its present shape. Mr. REYNOLDS said he had no objection to the amendment, except his anxiety that those persons who had settled on these lands seven or eight years, and to this day been undisturbed in purchasing. He had their case much at by the Government, should have the preference heart. If ever there were people in the Union entitled to the right of pre-emption, it was those people. They formed the barrier of that country. They were a part of the brave men that defeated the Creek Indians; and even partook in the glory of the defence of Louisiana, when their country required their services. Such men deserved attention from Government. But being also anxious for the other object of his motion, and there appearing to be an objection to connecting them, he should consent to the amendment now proposed. Mr. GASTON took a view of the successive laws of North Carolina, Tennessee, and the United States, on the subject of these land claims. The State of North Carolina, in parting with her rights to the United States, in 1803 or 1804, had done it on certain conditions; one of which was, that, in obtaining titles, no preference should be given to the citizens of Tennessee over those of any other State. It was therefore immaterial, he said, what were the particular merits of the individuals to whom the gentleman from Tennessee desired to secure pro-gress were tied up by the terms of the act of the right of pre-emption. If the hands of Concession of North Carolina, the merits of these settlers on the lands would not avail to establish their claim to pre-emption rights. Two members, to wit: from Rhode Island, JAMES B. MASON, and from New York, PETER H. WENDOVER, appeared, produced their credentials, were qualified, and took their seats. Congressional Reservation. On motion of Mr. REYNOLDS, the House ceeded to the consideration of the following resolve, submitted by him a few days ago: Resolved, That the Committee on Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of appropriating all that tract of land known by the name of the Congressional Reservation," lying in the counties of Maury and Giles, in the State of Tennessee, for the extinguishment of the Gerieme land warrants issued by the State of North Carolina, and that the actual occupants within the bounds of said tract, who have been living on said land on the first day of January last past, shall have a preference to perfect titles thereto Provided, No one shall be permitted to appropriate more than six hundred and forty acres, nor less than fifty acres, of land. : This motion Mr. YANCEY proposed to amend, by striking out the whole, except the word the claims of actual settlers to rights of preMr. ROBERTSON thought the discussion of emption to be at this time premature, as not properly before the House. He saw no objection to the resolution now proposed to be amended. Mr. PICKENS spoke in favor of the amendment. The State of North Carolina had made a grant of her rights in an act containing certain conditions, and requiring the assent of Congress as a preliminary. The assent contained in the act of Congress in 1806, in the opinion of North Carolina, was not sufficient |