place within the jurisdiction of the United States, from and after the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and eight. THURSDAY, December 4. JAMES HILLHOUSE, from the State of Connecticut attended. The following motion was made by Mr. MITCHILL, read, and ordered to lie for consideration: Resolved, That so much of the President's Message, of 2d December, as relates to the fortification and de fence of our seaport towns, harbors, and waters, be referred to a select committee, with leave to report by bill or otherwise. Mr. MITCHILL also submitted the following motion, which was read and ordered to lie for consideration : Resolved, That so much of the President's Message as relates to binding to the observance of the peace, and good behaviour, persons meditating enterprises against foreign nations in amity with the United States, be referred to a select committee, with leave to report by bill or otherwise. A motion was made by Mr. TRACY, as follows: Resolved, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, requested to cause to be laid before the Senate such information, documents, papers, and correspondence, as may be in his power, and which he may think proper to communicate, respecting the subject of his Message of the third of December instant, in which a suspension of the non-importation act is recommended. The motion was read, and ordered to lie for consideration. Ordered, That Messrs. ADAMS, GILMAN, and SMITH, of Vermont, be a committee agreeably to the twenty-second rule for conducting business in the Senate. FRIDAY, December 5. SENATE. Mr. WORTHINGTON submitted the following motion, which was read, and ordered to lie for consideration: Resolved, That a committee be appointed to examine if any, and, if any, what alterations or amendments sale of the public lands; and that they have leave to are necessary in the laws of the United States for the report by bill or otherwise. informed the Senate that the House have apA message from the House of Representatives pointed the Rev. Mr. ELLIOTT a Chaplain to Congress, on their part, during the present session. MONDAY, December 8. The PRESIDENT laid before the Senate the report of the Secretary for the Department of the Treasury, in obedience to the act, entitled "An the report was read, and ordered to lie for consid act to establish the Treasury Department;" and eration, and the usual number be printed for the use of the Senate. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House have passed a bill, entitled "An act to suspend the operation of an act, entitled 'An act to prohibit the importation of certain goods, wares, and merchandise,' and to remit the penalties incurred under the same;" in which bill they desire the concurrence of the Senate. The bill was read, and ordered to the second reading. The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion made on the fourth instant, to refer that part of the Message of the President of the United States to a select committee, which relates to binding to the observance of the peace, persons meditating enterprises against foreign nations, and having amended the motion, it was adopted, as follows: JAMES TURNER, from the State of North Caro-ident of the United States as relates to the laws reResolved, That so much of the Message of the Pres lina attended. The Senate took into consideration the motion made yesterday: "That so much of the Message of the President of the United States, of December the 2d, as relates to the fortification and defence of our seaport towns, harbors, and waters, be referred to a select committee;" and the motion was agreed to; and Messrs. MITCHILL, SMITH, of Maryland, GILES, BALDWIN, and GILMAN, were appointed the committee. The motion made yesterday, "That so much of the Message of the President of the United States as relates to binding to the peace, and to good behaviour, persons meditating enterprises against foreign nations in amity with the United States, be referred to a select committee, with leave to report by bill or otherwise," was considered, and postponed. The motion made yesterday, requesting the President of the United States to lay before the Senate such information as may be in his power, and which he may think proper to communicate, respecting the suspension of the non-importation act, was considered, and postponed. specting insurrections and violations of the public peace, or the authority, as well as the laws respecting the conspiracy or enterprise of private individuals against foreign nations in amity with the United States, be referred to a select committee, with leave to report by bill or otherwise. Ordered, That Messrs. GILES, MITCHILL, TRACY, STONE, and ADAMS, be the committee. The motion made on the fourth instant, for further information on that part of the Message of the President of the United States, of the third of December, relative to the suspension of the nonimportation act, was resumed; and it was agreed to amend the motion, as follows: Resolved, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, requested to cause to be laid before the Senate such information, documents, papers, and correspondence, as may be in his power, and which he may think, under all circumstances, proper to communicate, respecting the subject of his Message of the third of December instant, in which a temporary suspension of the act of the last session prohibiting certain importations, is recommended. And on the question to adopt this resolution, it passed in the negative-yeas 5, nays 18, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Bradley, Hillhouse, Pickering, Tracy, and White. NAYS-Messrs. Adams, Baldwin, Condit, Gaillard, Giles, Gilman, Howland, Kitchel, Logan, Maclay, Mitchill, Plumer, Smith of Tennessee, Smith of Vermont, Stone, Thruston, Turner, and Worthington. The Senate resumed the motion made on the 5th instant, that a committee be appointed to examine if any, and what, alterations or amendments are necessary in the laws of the United States for the sale of the public lands; and that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise; and the motion was agreed to; and Messrs. WORTHINGTON, TRACY, and BALDWIN, were appointed the com mittee. Agreeably to notice given on the 3d instant, Mr. BRADLEY asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill to prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States, from and after the first day of January, 1808; and the bill was read, and ordered to the second reading. TUESDAY, December 9. ANDREW MOORE, from the State of Virginia, attended. The bill, entitled "An act to suspend the operation of an act, entitled 'An act to prohibit the importation of certain goods, wares, and merchandise,' and to remit the penalties incurred under the same," was read the second time, and referred to Messrs. GILES, BALDWIN, and MITCHILL, to consider and report thereon. The bill to prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States, from and after the first day of January, 1808, was read the second time, and referred to Messrs. BRADLEY, STONE, GILES, GAILLARD, and BALDWIN, to consider and report there WEDNESDAY, December 10. Ordered, That Mr. TURNER be the Committee for Enrolled Bills, on the part of the Senate. The bill, entitled "An act to suspend the operation of an act, entitled 'An act to prohibit the importation of certain goods, wares, and merchandise,' and to remit the penalties incurred under the same," was read the third time. DECEMBER, 1806. ment, together with the bill, to a select committee; and Messrs. GILES, MITCHILL, and BALDWIN, were appointed the committee. Mr. WHITE presented the memorial of John Hays, and others, citizens of the State of Delaware, representing that the variety of weights and measures, at present in use in the United States, is productive of much uncertainty and difficulty, and praying that Congress would take effective measures for the establishment of a uniform and more beneficial system; and the memorial was read, and referred to Messrs. WHITE, ADAMS, BALDWIN, LOGAN, and MITCHILL, to consider and report thereon. THURSDAY, December 11. JOHN MILLEDGE, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of Georgia, in the place of James Jackson, deceased, took his seat, and his credentials were read, and the President administered the oath to him as the law prescribes. Mr. GILES, from the committee to whom was yesterday referred the bill, entitled "An act to suspend the operation of an act, entitled 'An act to prohibit the importation of certain goods, wares, and merchandise,' and to remit the penalties incurred under the same," together with a proposed amendment, reported sundry amendments, which were read, and ordered to lie for consideration. FRIDAY, December 12. The Senate took into consideration the bill, entitled "An act to suspend the operation of an act, entitled 'An act to prohibit the importation of certain goods, wares, and merchandise,' and to remit the penalties incurred under the same." When the following amendments were agreed to without a division, viz. strike out at the end of the 2d sec. the following words: "This act shall take effect from and after the passing thereof." Add to the end of the bill the following section: And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States be, and he hereby, authorized further to suspend the operation of the aforesaid act, if in his judgment the public service should require it: Provided, That such suspension shall not extend beyond the second Monday in December next. The bill, so amended, was read a third time, and passed, without a division. MONDAY, December 15. JOHN SMITH, from the State of New York, attended. The following Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: To the Senate of the United States: I lay before Congress a report of the Surveyor of the Public Buildings, stating the progress made on them during the last season, and what is proposed for the ensuing one. TH. JEFFERSON. On motion, by Mr. MITCHILL, to amend the bill, by adding a third section thereto, empowering the President of the United States further to suspend the operation of the act to the twenty-first December next, if circumstances should render it expe- The Message and report therein mentioned were dient, it was agreed to refer the proposed amend-read, and ordered to lie for consideration. DECEMBER 15, 1806. DECEMBER, 1806. Defence of Ports and Harbors. SENATE. Preparations are also making for the protection of New Orleans, and the mouth of the Mississippi, and evince a similar attention to the public interests in that Mr. LOGAN presented the petition of William them in the best manner that the situation of the Levis and Hugh Maxwell, stating, that they have ground admits. on hand a number of the Journals of Congress, under the Confederation, of Folwell's edition, which they will dispose of for the use of Congress, at the price heretofore stipulated by Government; and the petition was read, and referred to Messrs. LOGAN, BRADLEY, and BALDWIN, to consider and report thereon. DEFENCE OF PORTS AND HARBORS. Mr. MITCHILL from the committee appointed on the 5th instant to take into consideration that part of the Message of the President of the United States of December 2d, 1806 which relates to the protection of the seaports, harbors, and waters of the United States, made a report, as follows: quarter. to particularize the specific sums which it may be needThe committee, however, has not judged it necessary ful to apply to each of these important objects. There would be considerable difficulty in this, for want of circumstantial and minute information. They therefore believe it will be sufficient to recommend an ample appropriation in gross, for the repair of existing fortifications, and the erection of such new ones as may be required; and to leave the expenditure of the same, where the general safety or local welfare shall demand it, to the ample information and sound discretion of the Ex exutive. Under these considerations the committee ask leave to report a bill, making further appropriations for fortifying the ports and harbors of the United States, and for building gunboats. The bill was read and ordered to a second reading. TUESDAY, December 16. It appears from the communication of the Secretary at War, made to Congress on the 13th February, 1806, that several of the public works erected in different parts of the nation, for the purposes of defence, stand in need of finishing or repairs. The condition of the fortifications of Fort Sumner, in Maine, Fort Constitution, in New Hampshire, Fort Independence, in Massachusetts, Forts Adams and Wolcot in Rhode Island, Fort Trumbull, in Connecticut, Fort Jay, in New York, Fort Mifflin in Pennsylvania, Fort McHenry, in Maryland, A message from the House of Representatives Fort Nelson, in Virginia, Fort Johnson, in North Caro-informed the Senate that the House agree to the lina, Forts Moultrie, Pinckney, and Johnson, in South Carolina, Fort Green, in Georgia, and of Forts St. Louis, St. Charles, and St. Philip, in Orleans, and of the various other forts and military stations, is well known to the War Department, and only requires appropriations of money from year to year, to enable the needful additions to be made. It is therefore deemed unnecessary to enter into a detailed enumeration of their respective wants. But the committee cannot forbear to make mention of New York, Charleston, and New Orleans. amendments of the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act to suspend the operation of an act, entitled 'An act to prohibit the importation of certain goods, wares, and merchandise,' and to remit the penalties incurred under the same," with amendments; in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate. The Senate took into consideration the amendments of the House of Representatives to their amendments to the bill last mentioned; and concurred therein. A motion was made, by Mr. BRADLEY, that it be Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire whether any, and, if any, what further proceeding is necessary to carry into effect the provisions of an act, entitled "An act to authorize the State of Tennessee to issue grants and perfect titles to certain lands therein described, and to settle the claims to the vacant and unappropriated lands within the same," and to report thereon; and the motion was read, and ordered to lie for consideration. They are fully sensible of the great and growing imThe bill making further appropriations for forportance of New York; its exposed situation is a sub-tifying the ports and harbors of the United States, ject of public and general concern. It is agreed that and for building gunboats, was read the second the national power ought to be employed in its protec-time, and referred to Messrs. MITCHILL, GILES, tion. The attention of the Executive was therefore and BALDWIN, to consider and report thereon. turned to that object during the summer and autumn of 1805; and upwards of $25,000 were expended in repairing and enlarging in the most substantial manner the works on Governor's Island. These are progressing with all convenient speed; and though at this moment suspended on account of the rigor of the season, the committee has had the satisfaction to learn that the labor will be resumed with the cessation of the cold, and be steadily continued until both the city and harbor shall be put into a respectable state of defence. By the fortifications which it is intended to construct upon the different favorable positions which the land affords both above and below Governor's Island, skilful engineers conceive that so much will be done as to repel every ordinary assault of ships, and of all other force less than an invading army. The intended substitution of permanent structures of solid masonry, instead of wood and sand, will indeed require more time for their completion; but an ample compensation for this will be found eventually in their greater strength and durability. WEDNESDAY, December 17. On motion, by Mr. TRACY, it was Resolved, That a committee of three members of the Senate be appointed, who, with three members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the said House, are to have the direction of the money appropriated to purchase books for the use of Congress, pursuant to the act makThe fortifications at Charleston, South Carolina, having a further appropriation for the support of a ing been almost totally ruined by the severe hurricane of 1804, measures have been already adopted to rebuild library, passed on the 21st of February, 1806; and that the Secretary of the Senate notify the House of Representatives of the passage of this resolution; and, Messrs. ADAMS, BALDWIN, and MITCHILL, were appointed the committee on the part of the Senate. The Senate took into consideration the motion made yesterday, "That a committee be appointed to inquire what further proceeding is necessary to carry into effect the provisions of an act, entitled "An act to authorize the State of Tennessee to issue grants and perfect titles to certain lands therein described, and to settle the claims to the vacant and unappropriated lands within the same;" and having agreed thereto, Messrs. BRADLEY, TRACY, and GILES, were appointed the committee to consider and report thereon. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House have passed a bill, entitled "An act authorizing the erection of a bridge over the river Potomac, within the District of Columbia," in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate. The bill was read, and ordered to the second reading. THURSDAY, December 18. DECEMBER, 1806. in conformity with the several acts making provision for the disposal of the public lands in the Indiana Territory, made by the Commissioners appointed to examine the claims to land in the district of Vincennes; which was read, and the report and certain papers accompanying it were referred to Messrs. WORTHINGTON, GILES, and BALDWIN, to consider and report thereon. WEDNESDAY, December 24. Mr. BRADLEY presented the petition of Seth Harding, commander of a ship in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary war, in which service he received extreme bodily injury, as is stated at large in his petition, and praying such pecuniary relief as may to Congress seem reasonable for a person debilitated by public service; and the petition was read, and referred to Messrs. BRADLEY, SMITH of Maryland, and GILES, to consider and report thereon, by bill or otherwise. On motion of Mr. WORTHINGTON, it was Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire whether the several Territorial governments within the United States have, in pursu The bill sent from the House of Representa-ance to the ordinance and laws of the United tives, entitled "An act authorizing the erection of a bridge over the river Potomac, within the District of Columbia," was read the second time, and referred to Messrs. SMITH of Vermont, WHITE, and GAILLARD, to consider and report thereon. FRIDAY, December 19. The credentials of STEPHEN R. BRADLEY, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of Vermont, for the term of six years, from and after the third day of March next, were presented and read; also, the credentials of JOHN MILLEDGE, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of Georgia, for the term of six years, from and after the third day of March next. Ordered, That they lie on file. On motion, it was Ordered, That Mr. TURNER be of the committee to whom was referred, on the 9th instant, the bill to prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States, from and after the first day of January, 1808, in place of Mr. STONE, who is absent. On motion of Mr. TRACY, it was Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the circumstances of the coinage at the Mint of the United States, with leave to report by bill or otherwise, respecting the same; and Ordered, That Messrs. TRACY, GILES, and MITCHILL, be the committee. States, returned copies of the laws which such Territories have adopted or enacted to Congress, and if any Territory has not made the proper returns, the committee are directed to inquire into the causes of such omission and make report; and Messrs. WORTHINGTON, BALDWIN, and MOORE, were appointed the committee. The PRESIDENT Communicated a letter from ROBERT WRIGHT, stating that he had resigned his seat in the Senate. PHILIP REED, appointed a Senator by the LeRobert Wright, resigned, produced his credentials gislature of the State of Maryland, in place of and took his seat in the Senate. HENRY CLAY, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of Kentucky, in place of John Adair, resigned, produced his credentials and took his seat in the Senate. The credentials of Mr. CLAY and Mr. REED were severally read, and the oath was administered to them as the law prescribes. appointment to be a Senator of the United States Mr. REED also produced the credentials of his from the State of Maryland, from the third day of March next, until the 4th day of March, 1813, and they were read, and ordered to lie on file. JAMES FENNER, from the State of Rhode Island, attended. A message from the House informed the Senate that the House have passed the bill, entitled "An act making appropriations for the support of the Navy of the United States during the year one thousand eight hundred and seven," in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate. The bill was read, and ordered to the second reading. Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, submitted the following motion for consideration: Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire whether any, and, if any, what, amendments are necessary to the act for establishing rules and articles for the government of the Armies of the United States. Mr. WORTHINGTON, from the committee appointed on the subject, reported that, on inquiry, they find some of the laws adopted and enacted by the Territories of the United States have been returned to the office of the Secretary of State, and are assured by that officer that such as have been returned shall be laid before Congress in a few days, and that he has taken measures to obtain such as have not been returned. Mr. BRADLEY, from the committee appointed on the subject, reported a bill for the relief of Seth Harding, late a Captain in the Navy of the United States; which was read, and ordered to the second reading. TUESDAY, December 30. Mr. WORTHINGTON presented the petition of a number of the inhabitants of the county of Columbia, in the State of Ohio, praying for a reduction of the price of the reserved sections, Nos. 15, 21, and 22, in the original surveyed townships in the said county, for reasons stated in the petition; which was read, and referred to the committee appointed on the eighth instant, to examine what alterations are necessary in the laws for the sale of the public lands, to consider and report thereon. The bill, entitled "An act making appropriations for the support of the Navy of the United States during the year one thousand eight hundred and seven," was read the second time, and referred to Messrs. MITCHILL, SMITH of Maryland, and CLAY, to consider and report thereon. Mr. SMITH of Vermont, from the committee to whom was referred the bill, entitled "An act authorizing the erection of a bridge over the river Potomac, within the District of Columbia," reported it without amendment. He also presented a petition, signed John Mason and others, citizens of Georgetown, stating the reasons why the bill should not pass; and the petition was read, and the consideration of the bill, as in Committee of the Whole, made the order of the day for Monday next. The motion made yesterday to inquire what amendments, if any, are necessary to the act for establishing rules and articles for the government SENATE. of the Armies of the United States, was resumed and adopted; and Messrs. SMITH of Maryland, ADAMS, and BRADLEY, were appointed the committee to consider and report thereon. The bill for the relief of Seth Harding, late a Captain in the Navy of the United States, was read the second time, and the further consideration thereof postponed until to-morrow. WEDNESDAY, December 31. THOMAS SUMTER, from the State of South Carolina, attended. Mr. MITCHILL, from the committee to whom was referred the bill, entitled "An act making appropriations for the support of the Navy of the United States during the year one thousand eight hundred and seven," reported it without amend ment. On motion, it was agreed, by unanimous consent, that this bill be now read the third time. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the second reading of the bill for the relief of Seth Harding, late a Captain in the Navy of the United States, and the bill having been amended, was reported to the House, and agreed to. Ordered, That this bill pass to the third reading as amended. A message from the House informed the Senate that the House have passed a bill, entitled "An act making appropriations for the support of the Military Establishment of the United States, for the year one thousand eight hundred and seven," in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate. The bill was read, and it was agreed, by unanimous consent, to dispense with the rule, and that this bill be now read the second time. Ordered, That it be referred to Messrs. SMITH of Maryland, BRADLEY, and MITCHILL, to consider and report thereon. The Senate adjourned to Friday. FRIDAY, January 2, 1807. The PRESIDENT communicated a report of the Secretary for the Department of Treasury, in conformity with the several acts making provision for the disposal of the public lands in the Territories of Indiana and Michigan, enclosing the transcript of decisions made by the Commissioners in favor of claimants to land in the district of Detroit. And the report and papers were read, and ordered to lie on the table. The bill for the relief of Seth Harding, late a Captain in the Navy of the United States, was read the third time, and the further consideration of the bill postponed. On motion of Mr. SMITH of Tennessee, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire whether any, and, if any, what provisions ought to be made by law to prevent unauthorized entries or settlements of lands ceded to the United States, by foreign nations, by any particular State, |