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MAY 9, 1832.]

Case of Samuel Houston.

[H. OF R.

three; legislative, executive, and judiciary. These, to be rizing an armed opposition to the process of the federal juseparate and co-ordinate, must be independent of each diciary. Before the occasion happened, on which this other; each must operate as a check on the others; to law was to operate, Simon Snyder became Governor. effect which salutary end, each must be sustained by the During his administration, a law passed, requiring him to others. Thus the judiciary, in Madison's time, was sus- correspond with the President of the United States, to tained by the Executive of the Union, against an organized, procure some arrangement by which the execution of the legalized, and armed opposition to its authority in Pennsyl- sentence of the Supreme Court could be prevented, until vania. Even in the time of Washington, it was sustained the constitution could be so amended as to establish some in the same State against an armed factious opposition. separate, independent, and impartial tribunal, to decide The case to which I allude, of a legalized armed oppo- controverted questions of power and jurisdiction between sition to the judicial authority in Pennsylvania during Mr. the Federal and State Governments. That State then proMadison's administration, deserves a more particular no- posed to the States an amendment to the federal constitutice, as the exact parallel to that opposition now exists in tion, for the establishment of such a tribunal. Governor the South. The case was this: A controversy arose in the Snyder, in pursuance of the State law, wrote to President admiralty court of Pennsylvania, during the revolutionary Madison for his concurrence in some measure to delay the war, between the commander of a Pennsylvania Govern- execution of the process. ment brig and one Olmstead, owner of a Connecticut I am now, sir, speaking of transactions which may be privateer, in which each claimed a certain captured ves- new and appear strange to some; but I am speaking so sel. Judge Ross, the Pennsylvania admiralty judge, de- near the public archives of the nation, where the eviden termined in favor of Josiah, the commander of the Penn- ces of what I say must be preserved, that any one doubtsylvania brig, and his crew. Olmstead appealed to the ing, or prompted by curiosity, may examine for himself; continental court of appeals in admiralty cases, which or, by calling at my room, may see official copies of those was no other than a committee of seven members of the proceedings, certified from the Department of State of continental Congress. That court reversed the decree of Pennsylvania. Governor Snyder, in addressing the Prethe State court, and ordered the captured vessel to be sident, did not fail to remind him of the party topics of the sold for the benefit of Olmstead and crew; but, in consi- day, nor of the difference between a forcible resistance deration of the state of the country, refused to grant pro- to the constitution and laws of the United States, and a cess to enforce their reversing decree. All the court sentence of a judge, founded on a usurped authority. concurred, except the honorable Thomas McKean, the This slang did not then suit the Presidential ear. president of the court, who was among the first jurists of answer of President Madison is, perhaps, (and that is saythe age, and who afterwards became chief justice, and ing much,) the most laconic and decisive we have seen finally Governor of Pennsylvania. The admiralty judge, from his pen. He informed the Governor, that, so far whose decree had thus been reversed, nevertheless pro- from being at liberty to concert any measures to prevent ceeded to execute it; selling the prize, and distributing the execution of a sentence of the Supreme Court of the their shares of the prize money to Josiah and crew, and United States, it was made his duty, where opposition was paying to the celebrated David Rittenhouse, treasurer of made, to cause the same to be executed, and, for that purPennsylvania, the proportion to which that State was en- pose, to employ the necessary force. He added, that as titled by its laws. The sum so paid was vested in public no discretion remained with the federal Executive to withsecurities, and after his death came to the possession of hold the measures which might lead to a painful issue, it his daughters, who were his executrixes. The subject of this suit was brought, in a civil action, before the supreme court of errors and appeals of Pennsylvania, under the former judicial system of that State. Here again Mr. McKean presided as chief justice. This court concurred with the continental court of appeals, and, like them, were unanimous, with the exception of the president.

The

gave him great pleasure to perceive that the act communicated to him by Governor Snyder gave the latter gentleman power to compromise and settle the affair with Olmstead, which he did. The President's allusion was to the judicial act of 1789; of which we, in Visginia, have understood Mr. Madison to be the penman. If this is an historical error, I would like to be informed; if it is not, the foreseeing the necessity of making such a provision at that time is but another proof of the great sagacity of the late President Madison. (See note 3.)

Soon after the adoption of the present federal constitution, it was decided that the present district courts of the United States were the proper tribunals for carrying into effect the unexecuted sentences and decrees of the The Governor had stationed a military force, under the late continental court of appeals. Olmstead, hereupon, command of General Bright, or Hambright, round the filed his bill before Peters, district judge in Pennsylvania, house in which the daughters of Rittenhouse resided, to who rendered a decree, but declined enforcing it until prevent the marshal of the United States from entering the case was brought before the Supreme Court, and and serving his process. Alexander J. Dallas was district there finally decided in favor of Olmstead, against the attorney, and at this time publicly announced in court, in daughters of Rittenhouse. Meanwhile, Mr. McKean be- Philadelphia, the determination of the President of the came Governor, and, on a message from him, the Assembly United States to cause the sentence in Olmstead's case to of Pennsylvania passed a law, authorizing the Executive be executed. This fact ran through the city like fire beof that State to call out a sufficient armed force to resist fore the wind in dry stubble. The marshal summoned a the marshal in the execution of any process from the fede- posse of two thousand men, most of whom were attached ral courts to enforce the decision of the Supreme Court. to the Governor's political party, but all of whom declarThe ground taken by Chief Justice McKean was, that Penn-ed their readiness to aid the marshal; and, thereupon, the sylvania was a party, deriving a right to the money in the hands of the treasurer, by the judgment of her own court, which the courts of the United States had no jurisdiction to review or reverse.

general's troops, one after another, deserted, and the militia refused to obey him. The marshal entered, and the process was executed. Thus, though the Government rebelled according to law, the loyalty of the people of that Here, then, was a case, in which a State claimed to be great State put the rebellion down. It was supposed that a party; claimed the subject under the judgment of her the same mail from Washington that conveyed the Presiown court; viewed the jurisdiction of her court as final dent's answer to Governor Snyder, brought also an inand conclusive; and contended that the federal courts ex-struction to the district attorney to make public the Preercised but a usurped authority-a case in which the Ex-sident's determination; but I do not know whether the ecutive of the State had recommended the passage of a fact was so or not. I was present, and beheld the joy unilaw, and had approved and signed it when passed, autho-| versally diffused at the suppression of that rebellion.

H. or R.]

Case of Samuel Houston.

[MAY 9, 1832.

At all times the judiciary has had its enemies. There them as we who are here, and know their origin and their have always been those who are opposed to the tenure of merits. A new mode of accomplishing this desirable purjudicial office--those who will not consent to have the pose of prostrating the Senate has been invented, of far constitutionality of a legislative act, or the legality of an more extensive influence. Public meetings are got up in Executive measure, submitted to judicial determination. every city, town, and hamlet--in every village and counAt all times, therefore, there have been those who were ty place where the necessary materials are found. These impatient under the operation of the judicial check esta-meetings pass resolutions on the subject of Mr. Van Bublished by the constitution, and some of whom have labor-ren's nomination to England, and the rejection of that noed to bring it into contempt and disrepute among the peo- mination by the Senate. It cannot be affirmed of the ple, and to destroy their confidence in its decisions, by proceedings of these meetings, and of their resolutions, disparaging its usefulness, patriotism, and purity. Many that they are all couched in the same language, but the attempts have been made to beat down that great bulwark substance of all is the same--so much so, as to prove them of liberty--this sheet-anchor of every free State. One of to be the common coinage of the same mint--manufacturthese came from one in the highest place, and was made in ed in this city, for universal consumption. These resoluseveral of the State Assemblies. All these attacks, with the tions declare that Mr. Van Buren performed all the duties complete defeat of each, are matters of history. The con- of Secretary of State in a manner honorable to himself fidence of the people in their judges remains unshaken, and useful to the country--that his mission to England was and, I believe, was never more general than at the pre- necessary for the public service. His rejection by the sent moment. But we must shut our eyes to the light Senate is denounced as a corrupt, factious act, dishonorathat shines around us; we must cease to read what is pass ble to that body collectively, and individually disgraceful ing abroad, and even to hear some things uttered within to the members who concurred in it. These resolutions our walls, if we do not perceive a great effort is now mak- are adopted, it is said, in some places, by large collections ing to lessen, if not to nullify, this judicial check of the of people, and by hundreds and thousands of those who constitution. In this effort the public press is deeply en- cannot possibly know a syllable about the truth or untruth gaged. The judgments of the Supreme Court, when of what they so resolve. The foreign treaty relations of supposed not to agree with the opinions of the Executive, a country are never known to the great body of the peoare represented as attacks on the President; if displeas-ple, while the actual relations of peace and war are known ing to a State, as attacks on that State. The tribunal is to all. Negotiations unfinished are generally secrets to itself denounced as factious; its members as tyrants, aiming all but the Executive, and ought to be so. It is not posto usurp supreme power, and an unconstitutional control sible that, however well informed the great mass of our over the other departments of Government--one of which population may be, they should know enough of those inholds the purse, and the other the sword of the nation. tricate stipulations by which our commercial and other foI have already said that, in times past, the judiciary has reign relations are regulated, to decide on the merits or been sustained by the Executive, when called on for aid. demerits of Mr. Van Buren, or any body else, as to unfinThis is history. But whether it will now be so sustained, ished and undisclosed negotiations. Yet these resolutions remains to be seen; and soon that, too, will become history are obtained by political partisans, and used for the purAs an executive council, the Senate is the only consti-pose of putting down the Senate. tutional check on the President. If this check were re- Thus we see that there exists a powerful, organized, moved, the President, in making treaties, and in the exer- active, and tireless party in this country, who are now cise of the high power of appointment, would be precisely lending their united efforts to the prostration of the judias absolute as the Emperor of all the Russias. Should he, ciary and of the Senate. Many individuals engaged in by treaty, transfer part, or the whole, of one of these these desperate enterprises against public liberty feel conStates to a foreign Power, and should the balance of our fident of entire success. Against one department of Go constitution remain, such a treaty of dismemberment would vernment they believe they have already succeeded; and be the supreme law of the land; the judiciary would be as to the other, they feel so confident of victory as to antibound so to expound it, and, doubtless, in doing so, would cipate already the fruits of it. When this party shall have be sustained by the same Executive who would negotiate succeeded against the judiciary, and shall have humbled such a treaty. The Senate is the only check to an unre- the Senate, what more will be necessary in order to the strained Executive power. Remove this, and our Presi- complete establishment of arbitrary power? Nothing dents are monarchs in fact, and might as well be so in more but to subdue the independence of the people at And can we blink the fact, that a most powerful, large, which can only be done by destroying the freedom untiring, and widely extended effort is now making to of debate, and of proceedings here! And have we lived break down the Senate? The attack on the Senate is sus-to behold the beginning of this last, desperate enterprise? tained by the presses friendly to the Executive, all over If so, truly we may exclaim, with Senator Giles, "That in the Union. From that which is called its organ, in this all time, (our own not excepted,) a large proportion of city, the Senate is denounced, like the Supreme Court, the public mind inclines to monarchy, not in name, inas a factious body. Its members are accused of combina-deed, but to arbitrary power--power unchecked, unretions, of corruption, of political intrigue, and abused in strained, in the hands of one man;" and we must agree all the terms of reproach known to our language. Let- with him, "that it is our duty, as the friends of our free ters are written from this city, to be published in distant institutions, to guard and preserve them against the asplaces, among their constituents, in order to degrade them saults of that power."

name.

there. These, when published at a distance, come back, I wish the House to bear in mind, that, as I have no auand are republished here, as evidences of the public sen-thority to ascribe the efforts against the constitution and timent abroad; and are used here, not merely to degrade public liberty of which I have been speaking, to the Prethe members personally, but to break down the indepen-sident, or to his past or present cabinet, so I do not so dence of the body as a legislative and executive council. charge or ascribe them. It is not a new thing in history, It is urged by those who are concerned, here and elsewhere, in the manufacture of such evidences of public sentiment, that the Senate must be shorn of its powers and of its influence.

These modes of attack have been long known and used. The nation is accustomed to read letters from Washingtn, and has fallen into a habit of paying as little regard to

ancient or modern, for the friends of those already clothed with high powers to offer to invest them with more— with absolute sway. Some there have been, whose patriotism compelled them to reject such offers. But, in the indulgence of an unlimited confidence in him who is at the head of this Government, there are those who would blindly break down all the safeguards, all the checks of

INDEX TO THE DEBATES IN THE SENATE.

Adjournment, a resolution from the House of Represen-
tatives, proposed to adjourn on the 9th of July;
amended by striking out the 9th, and inserting
the 16th, Senate adjourned, 1296.

Agents for Claims, (See Appropriation bill.)
Alexandria Aqueduct, a memorial from the citizens of
Georgetown, against the pending bill to aid the
Alexandria Canal Company, ordered to be print-
ed, 1053.

the bill for the benefit of the Alexandria Canal
Company considered, and laid upon the table,

1070.

taken up and passed, 1074.
American citizens, a resolution calling on the President for
information respecting the imprisonment of, by
the authorities of New Brunswick, 3.
the information communicated, 4.
Apportionment. The bill for the apportionment of re-
presentatives among the several States, read the
second time, and referred to a select committee,

415.

bill taken up, and an amendment offered to it, and
then laid on the table, 487.
reconsideration of Mr. Webster's amendment, 640.
Mr. Webster reports a bill, 707; Mr. Webster's
scheme carried, and the bill passed.

the House of Representatives disagrees to Mr.
Webster's amendment, 931.

the Senate then recedes from it, 936.

Bank,

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the Senate resumed the consideration of the bill,
1024; passed 1073.
documentary history of, a resolution introduced,
authorizing the Secretary of the Senate to sub-
scribe for sixty copies of the work, 530; passed,
558.
proposition to print 5,000 copies of the report of
the committee appointed to investigate the affairs
of the Bank of the United States, was made,
899, agreed to, 931.

resolutions of the president and directors of the
bank of Pittsburg, in favor of renewing the
charter of the Bank of the United States. They
were referred and ordered to be printed.

a new one proposed in a memorial from Massachu-
setts, which was ordered to be printed, 180.
currency, report from the Secretary of the Trea-
sury on the subject, 329.

Bank veto, a message was received from the President,
informing the Senate that he had returned the
act to modify and continue the act to incorporate
the Bank of the United States, with his objec-
tions; the objections ordered to be recorded on
the journal. The objections considered, and the
bill lost, 1296.

Barracks, a bill for erecting at New Orleans, ordered to
be engrossed, 55.

read the third time and passed, 58.
Belgium, mission to, (See appropriation bill.)

Appropriations, the general appropriation bill taken up, British colonial trade, (See West Indies and general appro-

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Baltimore and Ohio rail road, (See Rail-road.)
Bank of the United States, a memorial from the President
and Directors; referred to a select committee, 53.
Resolutions calling for information in respect to the
Bank, 58.

leave asked to introduce a joint resolution, declara-
tory of the meaning of the charter of the Bank
of the United States, on the subject of the paper
currency issued by the bank, which is enforced
at great length, 114; after some debate, leave
refused, 154.

a resolution calling on the Secretary of the Treasu-
ry for information in relation to the affairs of the
Bank of the United States, 154.

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priation bill.)

Claims of States, (See State claims.)

Colonial trade, (See West Indies and appropriation bill.)
Colonization Society. A memorial from citizens of Ken-

tucky was presented, inviting the attention of
Congress to the subject, which, after some dis-
cussion, was laid on the table, 641.
Columbia, District of; a resolution was agreed to, appoint-
ing a committee, consisting of two members of
the Senate and one of the House of Representa-
tives, to prepare a system of laws for the District.
several bills in relation to the District, were taken
up and acted upon, 937; and afterwards passed.
Commissioners of the Navy, (See Navy.)
Commissioner of Indian affairs, (See Indians.)
Commercial statements. Resolutions calling on the Se-

cretary of the Treasury for information why
certain statements in relation to foreign com-
merce, heretofore called for, had not been fur-
nished,393; taken up, and the first resolution ne-
gatived, the second was laid on the table, but
afterwards passed, 412.

Secretary of the Treasury replies to the last reso-
lution, 438.

Committees, standing, appointed, 2.
Congressional documents. Report from the Secretary of
the Senate, and the Clerk of the House of Re-
presentatives, communicating the arrangements
made for their publication, 41.

a letter from Gales and Seaton stating the progress
made in printing the work, 46.

Cumberland Road. The bill providing for the continuance
of this road in the States of Indiana and Illinois,
&c. was ordered to a third reading, 515, and
passed.

Day of Humiliation, a resolution to appoint a joint com- Houston Samuel, a message from the House of Represen-
mittee to wait on the President, and request him
to appoint a day to be observed as a day of gene-
ral humiliation and prayer to God, that He may,
in his mercy, avert from our country the Asiatic
plague, 1128; agreed to, 1130.

Department of State, (See State Department.)
Discriminating duties with Spain, a message from the
President, communicated a report from the Se-
cretary of State, on the subject of the abolition

tatives, requesting that leave be given to four
of the members of the Senate, to attend the
House, for the purpose of giving evidence on
the trial of Houston; leave given, 802.
Humiliation and prayer, (See day of.)
Hunt, Jonathan, a member of the House of Representa-
tives from Vermont, his death announced, and
orders entered into for his funeral, 931.

of the discriminating duties now existing on Indians,
Spanish vessels. Referred to the Committee on
Finance, 1124.

Dividends, the amount of unclaimed, of the funded debt,
the Secretary of the Treasury called upon to
communicate, 224; taken up, after some discus-
sion laid on the table, 639.

Durbin, Rev. Mr. of Kentucky, elected Chaplain on the
part of the Senate, 9.

Duty on Tea, a report of a committee on memorials of
merchants, pray for a further reduction of, 6;
report considered and debated, 12; laid on the
table, 19.

Indian blankets, a bill to reduce it, referred to the
Committee on Manufactures, 49.
Refunding of, a bill to exempt, in certain cases,
from the operation of the tariff' act of 1828,
taken up, considered, and ordered to lie on the
table, 590; taken up, amended, and ordered to
be engrossed, 647, and passed.

remission of, a bill for the relief of B. J. Flaget,
(intended to remit the duties on certain paint-
ings, &c., presented to the Catholic Church, by
two foreign potentates;) ordered to a third read-
ing, 592, and passed.

Election of officers of the Senate, 6.
Executive powers, resolutions submitted on the subject of
the President's removal of public officers, 181.
proceedings, 1310.

Extension of Patents, (See Patents.)

Flaget, Bishop Benedict, a bill for the relief of, introduc-

ed and ordered to a third reading, 592.

Foreign Intercourse, (See appropriation bill.)

Mr. Frelinghuysen submitted two resolutions in
reference to treaties entered into with the Che-
rokees, 223.

vaccination of, (See Vaccination.)

the bill making appropriations for the Indian De-
partment for the year 1832, considered, and
ordered to be engrossed, 978; passed.

a bill to appoint a Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
988; ordered to be read a third time.

a bill to reappropriate the unexpended balances of
former appropriations, taken up, discussed, and
ordered to be read a third time, 991.
Insolvent Debtors, a bill in addition to an act for the relief
of insolvent debtors of the United States, 1089.
Internal Improvements, a bill for the improvement of the
Wabash river, &c.; referred to the Committee
on Roads and Canals, 592.

bill from the House of Representatives, making
appropriations for certain internal improvements,
read a second time, and referred to the Commit-
tee on Commerce, 938; discussed, 1120; passed,
1156.

a bill granting to the State of Missouri 500,000
acres of land for the purpose of internal im-
provement, was twice read, 592.

a resolution was offered to allow 500,000 acres of
land to the State of Louisiana, to aid in keeping
open their water courses, &c.; and another,
granting a like quantity to Mississippi, for pur-
poses of internal improvement.

a bill granting certain public lands to the States of
Missouri, Mississippi, and Louisiana, taken up,
discussed, and ordered to be engrossed, 1091;
again taken up and discussed, and laid on the
table, 1092.

Fortifications, a bill for the armament of, introduced, 26; Interest on protested drafts, a resolution to authorize the

discussed and indefinitely postponed, 31.

Judges,

France, outfit to, (See appropriation bill.)
French Spoliations, motion made to take up the bill pro- Iron for
viding satisfaction for claims due to American
citizens for spoliations, negatived, 1080; taken
up, discussed, and laid on the table, 1081; sub-
ject resumed, the bill discussed and amended;
the bill again taken up and ordered to be en-
grossed, 1201; passed.
Free bridge over the Potomac, a bill for constructing a
new free bridge over the Potomac, at Washing-
ton, discussed and passed, 1296.

Frontier, a bill introduced authorizing the President to

raise five companies of rangers for the protec-
tion of the Northwestern Frontier, read twice,
and referred to the Committee on Military affairs,
1068; a message from the House of Representa-
tives, proposed certain amendments to the bill,
which were discussed, 1075, and laid on the table.

Guatemala, appropriation for a mission to, (See appropria-
tion bill.)

Gwin, Samuel, his nomination as register of a land office,
rejected, 1417; nominated as register at a differ-
ent office; laid on the table, 1418.

Harbor bill, (See Internal Improvements.)

Secretary of the Navy to allow interest in certain
cases; laid on the table, 954.
rail roads, (See Rail-roads.)

a resolution instructing the Judiciary Committee
to inquire into the expediency of providing a
more permanent tenure of office, or for a differ-
ent mode of appointing them; agreed to, 462.
Judiciary, the general appropriation bill under considera-
tion; the increased expenses of courts discussed,

679.

795.

the proposed increased appropriation negatived,
a motion carried, to reconsider the above vote,
796.
resolution instructing the Judiciary Committee to
inquire if any further measures be necessary to
enforce the judgment or decrees of the Supreme
Court; agreed to, 964.

Johnston, honorable Charles C. one of the members of
the House of Representatives, from Virginia, his
death announced; measures taken for his fune-
ral, 1093.

Land Patents, the Vice President laid before the Senate,
a report from the Commissioner of the General

Land Office, stating that there are 10,590 patents
waiting for the signature of the President, 1119.
Land, Public, a bill from the Committee on Public Lands,

for reducing the price of lands, was taken up
and considered; seventy-five cents, as the price
per acre, was stricken out, and fifty cents insert-
ed; the bill was ordered to a third reading.
resolution proposing to instruct the Committee on
Manufactures to inquire into the expediency of
distributing the lands, or the proceeds thereof,
among the several States; laid on the table, 638.
the amendments of the House to the bill supple-
mentary to the several laws to dispose of public
lands were considered, one of them agreed to,
and the other laid on the table, 647; it was again
considered, and agreed to, 684.

Mr. Clay's bill for appropriating, for a limited
time, the proceeds of the sale of public lands
amongst the several States; read the first time,

785.

a motion made to take up Mr. Clay's bill for the
purpose of referring it to the Committee on
Public Lands; the motion to take up the bill was
carried, and the motion to refer it as proposed,
was laid on the table, 870; resumed 903, and
motion carried; report of the Land Committee,
931; bill taken up and discussed, 1096, 1129,
and passed, 1132.

President's messages to the Senate, in relation
thereto, 1336, 1387, 1388, 1389.
proceedings and debates thereon, 1367, 1394.

Officers of the Senate, (See election of.)
Order, points of, decided, 105, 333, 651, 660, 740, 786,
950, 1277, 1281, 1295.
Ordnance, a bill providing for the better organization of
the Corps, taken up and passed, 65.

Patents, extension of, a bill authorizing letters patent to
be issued to Thomas
-, and James Long;
recommitted, 996.

Patents, land, (See Land.)
Patent Office, resolution for recording patents for useful
inventions, was taken up, and passed; 487.
Pensions, (See Revolutionary Pensions.)

Peters,

Richard, (Reporter,) offered a proposition for
publishing an edition of the laws, treaties, &c.
of the United States, which was referred to the
Library Committee, 412.

Pleasanton, Stephen, a bill for his relief, (Fifth Auditor
making him an allowance for extra services, in
acting as Solicitor of the Treasury;) was read a
third time and passed, 900.

Portuguese vessels, a bill to exempt Portuguese vessels
from the payment of duties on tonnage; ordered
to be engrossed, 796; passed, 822.

the bill to provide for the appointment of a Re- Post
corder of the General Land Office, was consi-
dered, and laid on the table, 902; bill called up,
amended, and laid on the table, 1059; ordered
to be engrossed for a third reading; the question
on engrossment was reconsidered, and the bill |
was recommitted to the Land Committee, 1126;|
the bill was again considered, amended, and
ordered to be engrossed, 1128, and passed.
Laurens, Colonel John, a bill for the relief of his per-
sonal representatives, 110; laid on the table,
113; taken up, discussed, and ordered to a third
reading, 939.

Lewis, John, Jr., a bill for his relief, to refund the amount
of certain duties; considered and laid on the
table, 902.

List of the Senators, 2.

Office and Post Roads, a bill from the House of Re-
presentatives, to establish certain post roads,
and establish others; the bill taken up, 761;
subject again resumed; an amendment proposed
and debated, to abolish newspaper postage,
875; negatived, 919; bill ordered to be engross-
ed, 919; passed, 930.

a bill introduced to repeal the postage on newspa-
pers, 930; twice read and referred to the Post
Office Committee; the committee report against
it, and recommend its indefinite postponement,
933; agreed to.

President's fac simile, (See Lands.)
Privilege of the Senate's officers, a resolution permitting
the assistant doorkeeper of the Senate to attend
as a witness before a committee of the House of
Representatives, 1127; laid on the table, 1128.
Public Documents, (See Congressional Documents.)
Public Expenditures, (See Barracks.)

Lowrie's, Mr. (Clerk of the Senate,) refutation of a cer- Protection of the frontier, (See Frontier.)
tain charge reported against him, 8.

Militia, resolution instructing the Committee on, to inquire
into the expediency of a new organization of, 6.
Mint, the annual report of the directors, 108.
Mitchell, honorable G. E., from Maryland, the annuncia-
tion of his death; orders for his funeral, &c.,

1155.
Navy, a bill providing for the compensation of the Pur-
sers, taken up, discussed, and laid on the table,
45, 56.
Commissioners of, a bill to provide for the distribu-
tion of their duties; read a second time, 49; again
taken up, discussed, and postponed, 56.
Agents, a bill for the compensation of; ordered to a
third reading, 55.

Northeastern boundary, resolution calling on the Presi

dent to know whether further negotiation is pro-
posed in regard to this subject, 5; the resolution
called up, and transferred to the Executive
Journal, 6.

resolutions calling on the President for the ar-
rangement made with Great Britain on this sub-
ject, 108.

Rail-road, a bill authorizing a subscription on the part of
the United States, to the stock of the Baltimore
and Ohio Rail-road Company introduced, 951;
refused to consider the bill, 954, 988.
Randolph, Martha, a bill concerning, introduced and re-
ferred to a select committee, 20; motion to take
Revolutionary pensions, a bill supplementary to the act
up the bill negatived, 1128.
for the relief of the surviving officers and sol-
diers of the revolutionary army; taken up, again
considered and discussed, 706; bill taken up,
and after some discussion, laid on the table, 757;
again taken up, 761, and again, 919; motion to
recommit the bill negatived, 930; ordered to be
engrossed, 933; passed.

a joint resolution to transfer to the Secretary of
War, the duties imposed by the pension bill on
the Secretary of the Treasury, was taken up,
and agreed to, 1072.

the subject again taken up, and the resolution
committed to the Committee on Pensions, 1080;
the resolution was again taken up, and carried,

1120.

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