year, or the reported deficit in the revenue at the commencement of the present year. Mr. President, said Mr. E., the population of the United States, I presume, may be safely estimated at ten millions; if so, the loan of last year would be at the rate of thirty cents for each one of our whole population; the amount of the balance against the Treasury at the commencement of the present year would require still less; but even supposing the loan to be seven millions of dollars, as proposed by the honorable Secretary of the Treasury, (and I flatter myself we shall not want half that amount,) it would only be at the rate of seventy cents each. And can it be conceded to be "impossible" for the whole population of the Union, or even that of the Southern and Western States in general, to pay at the rate of seventy cents each, and, at the same time, be supposed that a part of the population of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Alabama, Mississippi, and two land districts in Missouri, with the few purchasers of public land which the present year may produce, will be able to pay two and a half millions of dollars, which is the sum estimated to be received from them? There must, indeed, sir, be a fallacy in supposing that the whole people of the Union are unable to do so little, or that so considerable a part of our whole population will be able to do so much: and I hope you will not adopt the latter opinion in the present case, and the former one when we come to act upon the proposition for a loan, whatever may be the amount required; for I deem it allimportant that we should not mistake in our estimate of what it is in the power of the debtors of public land to perform. The debt of Alabama, divided among her white population, would not be less than one hundred and twenty dollars each, which, divided into ten annual instalments, would be twelve dollars per annum to be paid by each. Deduct one-half the debt, it would reduce the proportion, as before stated, to six dollars; but strike off three-fourths of the debt, (and, I presume, a greater reduction could not be safely calculated on,) it would still leave to be paid, for ten years in succession, at the rate of three dollars per annum for each one of her whole white population. And can it be supposed that Alabama, which has no sound paper circulation at all, is capable of doing more, and yet that it is impossible for the whole population of the Union to pay at the rate of seventy cents even for one year only? But I will not pursue the subject further. I had, indeed, sir, intended to have availed myself much more at large of the reasoning and statements contained in the Treasury report; but the fatigue which I myself feel, admonishes me not to trespass longer upon the patience of the Senate, which I fear is already exhausted. Therefore, hoping that every member of this honorable body feels the importance of putting this momentous subject to rest, I will conclude by barely remarking that this truly desirable object can only be accomplished by duly considering what those debtors for public land are capable of performing, with SENATE. reasonable exertions, and requiring no more of them: for, without this, they will be encouraged to petition you again and again; while you yourselves will not, cannot be inflexible, unless you should feel the most perfect conviction that you had done all, or rather more than ought to have been expected of you; and if, for the want of due liberality on the present occasion, it should become necessary to grant further relief at some future session of Congress, God only knows when the business will end. Were I to judge from what I have witnessed in a similar case, I should certainly suppose, not until a large majority of this House shall have taken their exit for another world. Therefore, as well to discourage and prevent future applications for relief, as to fortify your own determination to adhere to the measures you are now about to adopt, believe me, sir, it is better to require too little than too much. When Mr. EDWARDS had concluded, the bill was laid on the table till to-morrow. FRIDAY, January 12. The PRESIDENT communicated a report of the Secretary of the Navy, made in obedience to a resolution of the Senate of the first of May last, requesting the Secretary of the Navy to cause to be revised the rules, regulations, and instructions, for the naval service; and the report was read, and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. Mr. DANA presented the memorial of David Mallory, of Connecticut, praying a pension in consideration of Revolutionary services; and the memorial was read. On motion by Mr. DANA, Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Pensions, to consider and report thereon. Mr. Oris, from the Committee on the Public Buildings, to whom was referred the petition of Julia Plantou, made a report, accompanied by the following resolution: Resolved, That the petitioner have leave to withdraw her petition. The report and resolution were read. Mr. WALKER, of Georgia, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the petition of Samuel Tucker, made a report, accompanied by a bill for the relief of Samuel Tucker, late a captain in the Navy of the United States; and the report and bill were read. Ordered, That the bill pass to a second reading. The Senate proceeded to consider the motion of yesterday, instructing the Committee on Naval Affairs to inquire whether there are any obstructions to the navigation of the river Thames, in the State of Connecticut, which were placed there by the American ships during the late war, and what measures ought to be adopted to remove them if any there are; and agreed thereto. The bill for the relief of Nathan Ford was read the second time. The bill to authorize the President of the United States to ascertain and designate certain boundaries, was read the second time. Mr. EDWARDS gave notice that, on Monday SENATE. Road-Miami of the Lakes-Bank of the United States. next, he should ask leave to bring in a bill confirming certain claims to land in the State of Illinois. Mr. NOBLE submitted the following motion for consideration : JANUARY, 1821. said road within a reasonable time in said bill to be limited: That such person or persons do stipulate to keep said road in good repair for and during a number of years, to be in said bill defined; and, also, that the person or persons so contracted with, do also give bond, with sufficient sureties, for the faithful performdefining the time and manner in which the title to ance of his or their contract; and, also, a provision said land may be conveyed. Resolved, That the Committee on the Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing by law a patent to issue to James Nickles, senr., for the southwest quarter of section nine in township "The committee, from an examination of the report No. 11 north, range No. 5 east, which said southwest and resolution above alluded to, are of opinion, that quarter has been located by the said James Nickles, the plan contemplated therein is the best, under existsenr., in the State of Indiana, by virtue of a warranting circumstances, that can be devised. The commitfrom the War Department, No. 245. Mr. JOHNSON, of Kentucky, submitted the following motion for consideration: Resolved, That the Committee on Pensions be instructed to inquire into the expediency of increasing the pension of Willis Tandy. Mr. EATON Submitted the following motion for consideration: Resolved, That the Committee on Finance inquire into the expediency of so amending the act of last session "to provide for the publication of the laws of the United States, and for other purposes," that the private acts of Congress and Indian treaties shall be published in some one newspaper in the District of Columbia. ROAD-MIAMI OF THE LAKE. Mr. TRIMBLE Communicated the following resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio; which were read: "The committee, to whom was referred so much of the Governor's message as relates to the roads contemplated by the Treaty of Brownstown, have had the same under consideration, and have collected all the information on that subject within their reach; and find that, on the 26th of January last, a select committee was appointed in the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States, to inquire whether any, and, if any, what, further provisions were necessary to give effect to the provisions of the Treaty of Brownstown, in the Territory of Michigan. That to that committee, the resolution on that subject, passed by the General Assembly of this State, at their last session, was referred, together with other documents on the same subject. That that committee, on the 12th day of May last, made a long and elaborate report, accompanied by a resolution, which resolution the committee have thought proper to transcribe, and make a part of this report, which is as follows, viz : Resolved, That the Committee on Roads and Canals be instructed to bring in a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to contract with any person or persons to construct a permanent and suitable road, to extend from the foot of the rapids of the Miami of the Lake, to the western line of the Connecticut Western Reserve, according to the plan contemplated by the Treaty of Brownstown; and, on such route passing through the reserve (so called) at Lower Sandusky, as the President may direct, in consideration of the whole of the tracts on each side of the contemplated road, which were granted by the Treaty of Brownstown, or so much thereof, as, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Treasury, may be adequate to the object. And in which bill shall also be inserted, among other things, a provision or provisions, that the person or persons so contracted with, do complete the tee would, therefore, recommend the adoption of the following resolution: "Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That they do concur in the afore-mentioned report made, and resolution reported to the Congress of the United States: And that our Senators and Representatives in Congress be requested to use their best endeavors to procure the passage of the law contemplated thereby. "Resolved further, That the Governor of this State be, and he is hereby, requested to send a copy of the tors and Representatives in Congress. foregoing report and resolutions to each of our Sena 66 JOSEPH RICHARDSON, Speaker of the House of Rep's. "ALLEN TRIMBLE, The resolutions were referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals. RELIEF TO LAND PURCHASERS. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill for the relief of the purchasers of public lands prior to the first day of July, 1820; and, on motion by Mr. EATON, that the bill be recommitted to the Committee on Public Lands, with instructions to 1st. Make the provisions of the bill applicable to those purchasers of public lands only who have purchased at public sale since the 30th day of December, 1816. 2d. And with instructions to extend the contemplated relief to none but those who, on or before the 30th day of October last, had made a settlement on the lands by them so purchased, defining and considering the settlement of any quarter section, a settlement of all contiguous and adjoining land, not exceeding two entire sections. 3d. And with instructions to extend the contemplated relief to no section on which any town may have been laid off, and the lots sold by any individual or company of individuals: ation of the bill was postponed to Monday next. On motion by Mr. Oris, the further consider BANK OF THE UNITED STATES. The Senate took up the bill reported by the Committee on Finance, to amend the act to incorporate the subscribers to the Bank of the United States, (proposing penal enactments against violations of their trust by officers of the bank or its branches; and authorizing the appointment of two officers to sign the notes of the bank, instead of the president and cashier.) Mr. SANFORD laid before the Senate, in a speech of some length, the views which operated on the Committee on Finance in recommending this bill; the reasons in favor of its provisions, and those which induced the committee not to recommend the other two objects petitioned for by the bank. Mr. ROBERTS moved to amend the bill by adding thereto the following sections: SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That the bills or notes of the offices of discount and deposite of the said bank, excepting those of the office in the District of Columbia, originally made payable, or which shall have become payable on demand, shall be receivable in all payments to the United States, only in the States and Territories in which they are made payable, and in the States and Territories in which no office of discount and deposite shall be established; any thing in the fourteenth section of the act incorporating the subscribers to the Bank of the United States to the contrary notwithstanding: Provided, That all notes of the denomination of five dollars, issued either by the bank or any of its offices of dis count and deposite, made payable on demand, shall be receivable at the bank or any of its offices: And provided, further, That it shall not be lawful for the directors of the said bank to establish more than one office of discount and deposite in any State, without the consent of the Legislature thereof first had and obtained. SENATE. Mr. Oris moved that these papers be printed for the use of the Senate. Mr. BARBOUR moved that all the papers submitted to the Committee on Finance by the bank be printed. [This motion was understood, by the debate which ensued on it, to refer to a particular paper which had been communicated to the committee by the bank, with a request that it might be received confidentially; which paper is understood to contain a statement of frauds committed on the bank, and the names of those persons or officers who committed them.] A good deal of discussion took place on this motion, and many gentlemen entered into it. The debate turned principally on the propriety of making public information of this personal character, which had been confidentially communicated to a committee of the body to whom the subject had been referred, simply to show the expediency of granting to the bank the security of penal sanetions against violations of trust by its officers, and the reason which existed for asking of Congress this additional guard against such treacherous spoliations, some gentlemen being in favor of making the information public, as a just punishment of the offenders, and a warning to the world against them; and others being opposed to disclosing it, under the circumstances in which it came to the knowledge of the Senate. In the course of the debate, it appeared that the document was not now in possession of the committee, and part of the discussion referred to the propriety of taking measures to obtain it, the proper mode of proceeding with that object, &c. The debate was terminated by a motion by Mr. SMITH to postpone SEC. 5. Be it further enacted, That the directors of the subject to Monday, with the view of then subthe said corporation shall cause a list of the stockholders of the said bank, together with their places of resi-mitting a resolution on the subject; and the subdence, to be kept in the banking house, at Philadel-ject was postponed-ayes 21; and the Senate adjourned to Monday. phia, open to the inspection of any and every stockholder of said bank, who may apply for the same within hours of business, for at least ninety days previously to every annual election of directors; and no person who may be entitled to vote at any election for directors of said bank, as attorney, proxy, or agent, for any other person, copartnership, or body politic, shall, as such, give a greater number than votes, under any pretence whatsoever; and no letter of proxy shall be of any force or effect longer than years, or until it shall have been revoked. SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That so much of the second and fourteenth fundamental article of the constitution of said bank, contained in the eleventh section of the act incorporating the subscribers thereto, as provides that no director of the said bank or any of its offices of discount and deposite, shall hold his office more than three years out of four in succession, be, and the same is hereby, repealed. SEC. 6. Be it further enacted, That, whenever the said corporation assent to the provisions of this act, and certify such assent to the Secretary of the Treas ury Department, by writing, duly authenticated, this act shall be of full force and effect, and not otherwise. Some debate ensuing on this proposition, as well as on the bill itself, a motion prevailed to postpone the bill to Wednesday, that the amendment might be printed; and the bill was postponed accordingly. Mr. SANFORD, having laid before the Senate sundry papers connected with the subject of this bill, which had been communicated to the Committee on Finance by the Bank of the United States, to enforce the expediency of granting the objects prayed for in their memorial MONDAY, January 15. The PRESIDENT communicated a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting statements of the payments made according to law during the year 1820, for miscellaneous claims of such demands of a civil nature as are not otherwise provided for; of contracts made relative to oil, lighthouses, buoys, stakeages, &c.; of contracts and purchases made by the collectors for the revenue service during the year 1819; and of expenditures on account of sick and disabled seamen during the year 1819; and the letter and statements were read. The PRESIDENT also communicated a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting a statement exhibiting the amount received by each clerk in the several offices of the Treasury Department for services rendered during the year 1820; and the letter and statement were read. Mr. KING, of Alabama, presented ten petitions, severally signed by a number of the merchants, and citizens, shipmasters, and shipowners, of the town of Blakeley, and of the merchants of the interior towns in the State of Alabama, praying that the town of Blakeley may be made a port of entry; and the petitions were read, and severally referred to the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures. Mr. WALKER, of Alabama, presented a petition, signed by a number of individuals concerned directly or indirectly in the purchase of public lands prior to the law "making further provision for the sale of the public lands," stating that said law operates injuriously on them, and praying that they may be permitted to apply the payments already made to such portions of their entries as such payments will cover at two dollars per acre, and that the residue may revert to the United States; and the petition was read, and laid on the table. Mr. THOMAS presented a petition, signed by a number of the inhabitants of the village of Cote Sans Dessein, in the Territory of Missouri, praying to be confirmed in their title to certain lands in said Territory; and the petition was read, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. SMITH Submitted the following motion for consideration: JANUARY, 1821. be annexed to the patent to be granted to each soldier. On motion by Mr. MORRIL, the committee to whom was referred the Message of the President of the United States of the 13th December, transmitting information relative to the execution of the "Act authorizing the purchase of fire engines, and building houses for the safe-keeping of the same," were discharged from the further consideration thereof. Mr. THOMAS, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the memorial of the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, in behalf of settlers on public lands, made a report, accompanied by a resolution that the prayer of the memorialist be rejected. Mr. THOMAS, from the same committee, to whom was referred the petition of the inhabitants of that part of the State of Indiana called the Brookville land district, made a report, accompanied by a resolution that the prayer of the petitioners ought not to be granted. Mr. EDWARDS obtained leave to bring in a bill confirming certain claims to lands in the State of Illinois; and the bill was passed to a second reading. Resolved, That, the better to enable Congress, in considering a bill to amend the act, entitled "An act to incorporate the subscribers to the Bank of the United States," to apportion the punishment to be inflicted upon Mr. ROBERTS, from the Committee of Claims, the Presidents, Directors, Cashiers, and other officers or to whom was referred the petition of Elisha Gorservants of the Bank of the United States, and its sev-don, reported a bill for the relief of the representaeral offices, or branch banks, the President of the Bank tives of Patience Gordon, widow, deceased; and be requested to transmit to the Senate, if any such exist, the bill was read, and passed to a second reading. a statement of any and all fraudulent conversions by the said Presidents, Directors, Cashiers, officers, or servants, of any of them, of any moneys, bills, notes, securities for money, evidences of debt, or other effects whatsoever, belonging to the said bank, to his or their own use; and in what offices these frauds have been practised, and to what extent, and by whom committed, and at what times; and likewise to state what facilities each of those several officers have, by means of their stations respectively, to commit frauds of this character. 1. Resolved, That the Committee on Roads and Ca nals be instructed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing by law the employment of the Topographical engineers, under the direction of the President of the United States, in surveying roads and canals through the public lands, in such places and upon such plan as will best promote the general interest, and improve the military defence of the United States. Mr. ROBERTS laid on the table a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury in relation to the claim of Elisha Gordon. The Senate having proceeded to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Mr. BURRILL, in the committee appointed to inquire into the expediency of reducing the pay of the members of Congress and officers of the Executive departments, Mr. STOKES was appointed to supply said vacancy. Mr. MACON was appointed to supply the vacancy in the Committee of Pensions, occasioned by the resignation of Mr. WILSON. The bill for the relief of Samuel Tucker, late captain in the Navy of the United States, was read the second time. The Senate proceeded to consider the report of the Committee on the Public Buildings on the petition of Julia Plantou; and, on motion by Mr. ROBERTS, it was laid on the table. The Senate proceeded to consider the motion of 2. Resolved, That the Committee on Roads and Ca- the 12th instant, instructing the Committee on nals be instructed to inquire into the expediency of Public Lands to inquire into the expediency of authorizing by law the employment of the Topograph-granting a patent to James Nickles, sr., for a quarter ical engineers in surveying, under the direction of the section of land; and agreed thereto. President of the United States, canals to connect the navigable waters between Boston Harbor, in the State of Massachusetts, and Pamlico Sound, in the State of North Carolina, in such direction and on such plan as will best promote the interests and military and naval defence of the United States. On motion by Mr. THOMAS, the Committee on Public Lands were discharged from the further consideration of the resolution of the 2d instant, instructing them to inquire into the expediency of authorizing a map of the military bounty lands to The Senate proceeded to consider the motion of the 12th instant, instructing the Committee on Pensions to inquire into the expediency of increasing the pension of Willis Tandy; and agreed thereto. The Senate proceeded to consider the motion of the 12th instant, instructing the Committee on Finance to inquire into the expediency of directing the publication of the private acts of Congress and Indian treaties; and agreed thereto. The PRESIDENT communicated a letter from the The Senate then proceeded to consider the report of the select committee on the petition of Matthew Lyon, who prays to be indemnified for the damages which were inflicted on him under the former Sedition law. The report concludes with the following resolutions: Resolved, That so much of the act, entitled "An act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States," approved the 14th July, 1798, as pretends to prescribe and punish libels, is unconstitutional. Resolved, That the fines collected under that act ought to be restored to those from whom they were exacted; and that these resolutions be recommitted to the committee who brought them in, with instructions to report a bill to that effect. The resolutions having been read, Mr. BARBOUR rose in support of them, and spoke about two hours; when (not having finished his argument) he gave way for a motion to postpone the subject until tomorrow; which prevailed. TUESDAY, January 16. SENATE. petition of the trustees of Worthington College, in Ohio; and it was postponed to Monday next. MATTHEW LYON. The Senate then resumed the consideration of the report of the select committee on the case of Matthew Lyon. Mr. BARBOUR concluded the argument which he left unfinished yesterday, in support of the resolutions. Mr. WALKER, of Georgia, next rose and spoke some time against the resolutions. Mr. JOHNSON of Kentucky replied to Mr. W. and advocated the resolutions. WEDNESDAY, January 17. Mr. WALKER, of Alabama, presented the petition of William Dick, of Alabama, praying that he may be permitted to surrender the certificate for a quarter section of land erroneously entered in his name, and that the amount paid therefor may be credited in payment for other lands; and the petition was read and referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. NOBLE presented the petition of Isaac M. Johnson and others, inhabitants of that part of the State of Indiana called the "New Purchase," in the Brookvill Land District, praying that the preemption right to a quarter section of land may be granted to Moses Finch, senr., for the purpose of building a bridge over Blue River; and the petition was read and referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. THOMAS presented the petition of the inhab- Mr. JOHNSON, of Louisiana, presented the meitants and settlers in that part of the State of Illi- morial of the General Assembly of that State, nois, commonly called the Sangamo country, pray-praying that a military road may be made on each ing the right of pre-emption to the lands settled by them; and the petition was read, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. EATON, from the Committee on Finance, to whom the subject was referred, reported a bill supplementary to an act passed on the 11th of May, 1820, entitled "An act to provide for the publication of the laws of the United States, and for other purposes;" and the bill was read, and passed to the second reading. On motion, by Mr. HORSEY, the Secretary of the Treasury was directed to lay before the Šenate the latest statements he may have received, showing the state of the several incorporated banks in the District of Columbia. side of the Mississippi river, from Fort St. Philip to the English Turn; and the memorial was read and referred to the Secretary for the Department of War. Mr. HOLMES, of Maine, from the Committee on Finance, to whom the subject was referred, reported a bill further to establish the compensation of the officers employed in the collection of duties on imports and tonnage, and for other purposes; and the bill was read, and passed to a second reading. Mr. WILLIAMS, of Tennessee, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the petition of Robert Swartwout, reported a bill for the relief of General Robert Swartwout; which On motion, by Mr. VAN DYKE, the Senate pro-was read, and passed to a second reading. ceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill to establish an uniform system of bankruptcy throughout the United States; and it was postponed to, and made the order of the day for, Monday next. The bill for the relief of the representatives of Patience Gordon, widow, deceased, was read the second time. The bill confirming certain claims to land in the State of Illinois was read the second time, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands. The Senate resumed the consideration of the report of the Committee of Public Lands on the Mr. PARROTT gave notice, that, to-morrow, he should ask leave to bring in a bill authorizing the repair of a sea-wall at the Isles of Shoals, and for other purposes. The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion of the second instant instructing the Committee on the Judiciary to report a bill extending the judicial authority of the United States over the State of Missouri; and, on motion by Mr. EATON, it was laid on the table. Mr. RUGGLES communicated the following resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio; which were read: |