SENATE. Proceedings. JANUARY, 1807. or Indian tribe, who shall report by bill or other-resistance by the strength of our militia; that the wise. Ordered, That Messrs. SMITH of Tennessee, GILES, and BRADLEY, be the committee. A motion was made by Mr. BRADLEY, that it be Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Navy Pension Fund be directed to lay before the Senate a minute statement of their proceedings relative to the management of the said funds, during the last year. Ordered, That the motion lie for consideration. A motion was made by Mr. CLAY, that it be Resolved, That a committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a bill to extend to the districts of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio, the circuit courts of the United States. Ordered, That the motion lie for consideration. MONDAY, January 5. The PRESIDENT Communicated a report from the Treasurer of the United States, of the general account of his office, from October 1st, 1805, to October 1st, 1806; as, also, the accounts of the War and Navy Departments, for the same period; and the report was read, and ordered to lie on the table. On motion, by Mr. WORTHINGTON, it was Resolved, That the report of the Secretary for the Department of Treasury, of the 2d instant, made 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, be referred to a special committee. Ordered, That Messrs. WORTHINGTON, MACLAY, and BRADLEY, be the committee, to consider and report thereon. The following Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: I transmit to each House of Congress a copy of the laws of the Territory of Michigan, passed by the Governor and Judges of the Territory during the year 1805. TH. JEFFERSON. late acquirement of territory gave us an exposed frontier, which could not be succored speedily by the militia of the Union; he therefore conceived an addition to the Army as indispensably necessary. Ordered, That Messrs. SMITH of Maryland, GILES, and BRADLEY, be the committee, and to report thereon. The motion made on the 2d instant, that a committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a bill to extend to the districts of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio, the circuit courts of the United States, was resumed and agreed to; and, Ordered, That Messrs. CLAY, BALDWIN, GILES, ADAMS, and BRADLEY, be the committee. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the second reading of the bill, entitled "An act authorizing the erection of a bridge over the river Potomac, within the District of Columbia,” and the further consideration thereof was postponed until Monday next. Ordered, That Messrs. WHITE, SMITH of Vermont, and GAILLARD, be a committee to examine the papers laid before the Senate on the subject of the last mentioned bill, and direct such as they may think proper to be printed. Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, from the committee to whom was referred the 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,” reported it without amendment. Ordered, That this bill pass to a third reading. TUESDAY, January 6. Bazadon, stating that he obtained a judgment Mr. CLAY presented the petition of Laurient against George R. Clark, in the General Court of the Northwestern Territory for a very considerable sum, to wit: about twelve thousand dollars; that some time after the said judgment was obtained, and before execution issued thereon, Congress passed an act to divide the said Territory; he therefore prays such legislative provision may be made, as that executions may issue on judgments obtained before the division of the said Territory, in the same manner as if a division had never taken place; and the petition was read, and referred to Messrs. CLAY, BRADLEY, and GILES, to consider and report thereon. The 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," was read the third time, and passed. WEDNESDAY, January 7. The PRESIDENT communicated the report of the Postmaster General, made in obedience to the act of the 21st of April last; and the report was read, and referred to Messrs. TRACY, BALDWIN, and CONDIT 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 discharge of William Hearn from his imprisonment ;" and a bill, entitled "An act for the relief of George Little" in which bills they desire the concurrence of the Senate. The bills were read, and ordered to the second reading. Mr. TRACY, from the committee to whom the subject was referred, on the 19th of December last, reported a bill in addition to the act for establishing a Mint, and regulating the coins of the United States; which was read, and ordered to the second reading. THURSDAY, January 8. The bill, entitled "An act for the relief of George Little," was read the second time, and referred to Messrs. MACLAY, ADAMS, and TRACY, to consider and report thereon. The bill, entitled "An act authorizing the discharge of William Hearn from his imprisonment," was read the second time, and referred to Messrs. TRACY, GILES, and MOORE, to consider and report thereon. The bill in addition to the act for establishing a Mint, and regulating the coins of the United States, was read the second time, and the further consideration thereof postponed until to-morrow. Ordered, That the petition of John Chester, together with the report of the Secretary of the Treasury of the 25th of March last, thereon, be referred to Messrs. HILLHOUSE, BRADLEY, and SMITH, of New York, to consider and report thereon. FRIDAY, January 9. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill in addition to the act for establishing a Mint and regulating the coins of the United States, and after having agreed to sundry amendments, the bill, as amended, was reported to the House. Ordered, That it pass to the third reading as amended. Mr. BRADLEY, from the committee to whom was referred the laws of the Territory of Michigan, adopted by the Governor and Judges of said Territory, from the first day of July, one thousand eight hundred and five, to January 1, one thousand eight hundred and six, communicated by the President of the United States in his Message of the 5th instant, reported "that, having had said laws under consideration, they recommend to the Senate not to disapprove of the same." SENATE. Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, presented a letter, signed Joseph Clarke, on the subject of bridges; which was read. Mr. BAYARD presented the examination of William Mills, of Boston, on the same subject; which was read. Ordered, That these several papers be printed for the use of the Senate. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the second reading of the bill, entitled "An act authorizing the erection of a bridge over the river Potomac, within the District of Columbia ;" and the consideration of the bill was further postponed until Monday next. Mr. WORTHINGTON gave notice that he would, on Thursday next, ask leave to bring in a bill giving the assent of Congress to a proposition contained in the sixth section of the seventh article of the Constitution of the State of Ohio. Mr. TURNER notified the Senate that he would to-morrow ask leave to bring in a bill to alter the time of holding the circuit court in the district of North Carolina. The PRESIDENT laid before the Senate the report of the Judges of the District of Columbia, in conformity to the resolution of the Senate, of the 14th of April last, on the subject of a fee bill; and the report was read, and referred to Messrs. ADAMS, BRADLEY, and MITCHILL, to consider and report thereon by bill or otherwise. The PRESIDENT laid before the Senate an authenticated copy of the proceedings of the members of a committee appointed by a convention of delegates of the citizens of Michigan Territory, convened at Detroit the 27th day of November, 1806, by proclamation of the Governor, and dissolved on the first day of December last, signed Augustus B. Woodward, and others; which was read. Ordered, That it be referred to the committee appointed on the fifth instant, on the report of the Secretary for the Department of Treasury, on the disposal of lands in the Indiana and Michigan Territories, and claims to lands in the district of Detroit, to consider and report thereon. Mr. MACLAY, from the committee to whom was referred the bill, entitled "An act for the relief of George Little," reported it without amendment, and the consideration thereof was postponed until to-morrow. The credentials of JOHN GAILLARD, appointed a Senator of the United States for the State of South Carolina, for the term of six years after the 3d of March next, were read, and ordered to lie on file. The bill in addition to the act for establishing a mint, and regulating the coins of the United States, was read the third time, and postponed until Monday next. On motion, by Mr. CLAY, that it be Ordered, That this motion lie for considera tion. Mr. CLAY, from the committee to whom was referred, on the 6th instant, the petition of Laurient Bazadon, reported that the prayer of the petition ought not to be granted; and the report was adopted. TUESDAY, January 13. Agreeably to notice given yesterday, Mr. TURNER asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill to alter the time of holding the circuit court in the District of North Carolina; and the bill was read, and ordered to the second reading. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the second reading of the bill, entitled "An act for the relief of George Little," and the bill having been reported to the House without amendment, Ordered, That it pass to a third reading. Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, from the committee to whom the subject was referred on the 5th instant, asked and obtained leave to report a bill supplementary to an act, entitled "An act fixing the Military Peace Establishment of the United States;" and the bill was read, and ordered to the second reading. Ordered, That the memorial of the President and Directors of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Company, presented on the 28th of January last, together with the documents and report thereon, be referred to Messrs. BAYARD, BALDWIN, and MITCHILL, to consider and report to the Senate. WEDNESDAY, January 14. The bill to alter the time for holding the circuit court in the district of North Carolina was read the second time, and referred to Messrs. TURNER, BRADLEY, and GILES, to consider and report thereon. Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, presented a memorial signed John Mason, Benjamin Stoddert, and Walter Smith, stating reasons against the bill for erecting a bridge over the river Potomac, with sundry documents in reference thereto; which were read, and ordered to be printed for the use of the Senate. The bill supplementary to the act, entitled "An act fixing the Military Peace Establishment of the United States," was read the second time, and, having been amended, was reported to the House accordingly. JANUARY, 1807. The bill last brought up for concurrence was read, and ordered to the second reading. The bill, entitled "An act for the relief of George Little," was read the third time, and passed. Mr. CLAY, from the committee to whom the subject was referred, on the 5th instant, reported a bill establishing circuit courts, and abridging the jurisdiction of the district courts in the districts of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio; and the bill was read, and ordered to the second reading. The Senate took into consideration the motion made on the 12th instant, to appropriate a quantity of land, at a fair cash valuation, towards the opening of the canal proposed to be cut at the rapids of the Ohio, on the Kentucky shore; and it was referred to Messrs. CLAY, GILES, and BALDWIN, to consider and report thereon. THURSDAY, January 15. Mr. WORTHINGTON Communicated two resolutions of the Legislature of the State of Ohio; the one, requesting their Senators and Representatives in Congress to use their exertions to obtain a grant of land between the Sciota and the Little Miami, in any part of the unappropriated lands of the United States within that State, for the use of schools, within the Virginia military district, in lieu of the donation heretofore granted by Congress for that purpose, for reasons stated in the resolution; the other, requesting them to use their exertions to procure the passage of a law prohibiting the importation of slaves into the United States, or any of the territories thereof, so soon as the Constitution will admit of the same. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House have passed a bill, entitled "An act providing for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States," in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate. Ordered, That this bill pass to the third read-a ing as amended. The bill last brought up for concurrence was read, and ordered to the second reading. The PRESIDENT communicated a report of the Secretary for the Department of State, in pursuance of the act of Congress, entitled "An act to regulate and fix the compensation of clerks," and stating, that it is his opinion that the public service would be promoted by a provision at least sufficient for the employment of an additional clerk. The bill, entitled "An act repealing the acts laying duties on salt, and continuing in force, for further time, the first section of an act, entitled 'An act further to protect the commerce and seamen of the United States against the Barbary Powers," was read the second time, and referred to Messrs. GILES, BRADLEY, and BALDWIN, to consider and report thereon to the Senate. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House have passed a bill, entitled “An act repealing the acts laying duties on salt, and continuing in force for a further time the first section of an act, entitled "An The PRESIDENT communicated the report of act further to protect the commerce and seamen the Secretary for the Department of War, in comof the United States against the Barbary Pow-pliance with the 5th section of the "Act to reguers;" in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate. late and fix the compensation of clerks, and to authorize the laying out certain public roads, and JANUARY, 1807. Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. for other purposes;" and stating the names of the clerks employed in the Secretary's and Accountant's office, in the War Department, in the year 1806, and the sum given to each; and that the extension of our relations with the Indians has, within the two years past, made a considerable addition to the business for clerks in the said department; and the two reports last mentioned were read, and ordered to lie for consideration. Mr. TURNER, from the committee to whom was referred the bill to alter the time of holding the circuit court in the district of North Carolina, reported it without amendment. SENATE. The site of the canal has been fixed, and its embouchures established at Welch Point, on the Elk river, and Mendenhall's ferry, on Christiana Creek. It is intended to furnish a navigation to vessels drawing upwards of seven feet water. The work has been commenced, and a canal to supply the necessary water to the main canal has been opened from the headwaters of the Elk river, nearly to the line of the route of the grand canal. This canal of supply communithe three States of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Marycates with populous and productive tracts of country in land, and is calculated for barge navigation. The length of the main canal, as the route has been established, is twenty-one miles, and the expense of cutting it is estimated at twenty-five thousand dollars a mile. Mr. BRADLEY, from the committee to whom was referred the bill to prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the juris- The committee are of opinion that the work designed diction of the United States, from and after the to be accomplished by the Chesapeake and Delaware first day of January, 1808, reported the same with Canal Company is one of great interest and importsundry amendments, which the committee have ance, not only to the three States, whose laws have inincorporated with the bill. And it was agreed corporated the company, but generally to the United that the bill should be read as reported, and con- States. By opening the proposed communication besidered in paragraphs, as in Committee of the tween the two bays, the safe inland navigation of Whole; and, after having agreed to sundry amend-twenty-one miles, supplies the place of a circuitous and ments in the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th sections, the further consideration thereof was postponed. Mr. ADAMS, from the committee to whom the subject was referred, on the 12th instant, ported a bill to reduce the expenses attending the administration of justice in the District of Columbia; and the bill was read, and ordered to the second reading. CHESAPEAKE AND DELAWARE CANAL. exposed navigation of five hundred. The large tracts of country in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey, connected with the waters of re-nication, and will immediately feel the great benefit of the bays, will be furnished with a safe water commuthe work. In the event of a war, the facility, celerity, safety, and cheapness, in the transportation of troops, and ordnance, and military stores, from remote parts of the United States, present an object at once of sufficient magnitude to interest the General Government in the undertaking. The importance, however, of the proposed canal, though great in itself, is not justly ap preciated by considering it as a separate work; it must be viewed as the basis of a vast scheme of interior navigation, connecting the waters of the lakes with those of the most southern States, a plan certainly within the compass of industry and art; and if beyond the present means, unquestionably within the growing resources of the country. Mr. BAYARD, from the committee to whom was referred the memorial of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Company, praying the protection and aid of Congress, presented on the 28th of January, 1806, with the documents accompanying the same, and the report of a committee of the Senate thereon, made the following report: That having examined the said memorial and documents, and considered the report of the committee of the Senate, made at the last session of Congress, and finding the said report to contain a statement of the material facts relative to the subject of the said memorial, and approving of the resolution proposed by the committee, referring to the said report as a part of this report, they recommend the adoption of the resolution offered to the Senate by the former committee. In Senate of the United States, March 21, 1806. Mr. LOGAN, from the committee to whom was referred, on the 28th January last, the memorial of the President and Directors of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Company, made report: That it appears that a company has been incorporated and established by concurrent acts of the Legislatures of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, for the purpose of cutting a canal across the isthmus, separating the waters of the Delaware and Chesapeake bays. The capital of the company consists of two thousand six hundred shares, and two hundred dollars constitute a share. The sum of consequence contemplated to complete the work, is five hundred and twenty thousand dollars. Of this sum nearly four hundred thousand dollars have been subscribed by individuals, and between five and six hundred shares remain unsubscribed for. 9th CoN. 2d SESS.-2 The following statement and illustration of the plan, the committee have extracted from the memorial, furnishing a correct view of the subject, well deserving the serious consideration of the Senate: "It is easy however to see, by examining any map of the United States, that this extent may be carried much further. To the southward, the canal through the Dismal Swamp, now in execution, will open the communication to the waters of Albemarle sound, and from thence through the inlets to South Carolina and Georgia. To the northward, a communication is now nearly opened from Albany, up the Mohawk river to Lake Ontario and all the upper lakes; if a similar one be made from the Hudson river to Lake Champlain, it will extend the navigation to Quebec. And to the eastward, if the pass from Buzzard's to Boston bay be opened, which has been contemplated, it will in like manner extend it to Boston and all the coast of Massachusetts. Thus, with opening only a few short passes, of which the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal is the great and preliminary one, a communication may be made nearly free from all the dangers of the ocean, along the whole coast of the United States." The committee are of opinion that it is among the first duties of a Government to promote public improvements of a general nature. No works deserve the character of public improvements more than canals. SENATE. Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. The one proposed by the memorialists is of the first magnitude; it therefore well deserves the assistance and encouragement of the Government. Considering that a large capital has been subscribed, that an expensive part of the work is nearly completed, that probably, without the countenance and aid of the Government, the work will cease, to the loss of a number of public spirited individuals, and the destruction of a great public improvement; it is the opinion of the committee that aid ought to be granted to the memorialists. If it be inconvenient, at this moment, to spare money from the Treasury, the United States have it in their power to contribute the assistance prayed for by a grant of land. The grant may be either gratuitous, or the company enjoined to dispose of it, and to credit the United States with shares of their stock, equal to the proceeds of the land, at the established rate of two hundred dollars for each share. The committeee, therefore, submit the following resolution: Resolved, That acres of land be granted to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Company, upon their giving bond, conditioned to transfer to the United States a number of the shares of the capital stock of said company, at the rate of two hundred dollars a share, equal to the proceeds of the sales of the land granted to them; and conditioned to sell the said land within years, and to furnish to the Secretary of the Treasury a true account of the sales. The report was ordered to lie for consideration. FRIDAY, January 16. JANUARY, 1807. making provision for the redemption of the whole of the public debt of the United States;" in which bills they desire the concurrence of the Senate. The bills were read, and ordered to the second reading. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the second reading of the bill to alter the North Carolina; and, having reported it to the time of holding the circuit court in the district of House without amendment, Ordered, That this bill pass to a third reading. The bill establishing circuit courts, and abridging the jurisdiction of the district courts in the districts of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio, was read the second time as in Committee of the Whole; and, having been amended, was reported to the House. Ordered, That this bill pass to the third reading as amended. The bill supplementary to an act, entitled "An act fixing the Military Peace Establishment of the United States," was read the third time, and passed. The bill to reduce the expenses attending the administration of justice in the District of Columin Committee of the Whole; and the further conbia was read the second time, and considered as sideration thereof postponed. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, 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; and, after progress, the consideration thereof was further postponed. On motion, by Mr. WORTHINGTON, it was Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the expediency of altering so much of an act of March 3, 1803, as relates to the lands allowed for the support of schools, in the Virginia military reservation, in the State of Ohio, and that they have leave to report by bill or other-proposition contained in the 6th section of the wise. 7th article of the constitution of Ohio; and the bill was read, and ordered to the second reading. Ordered, That Messrs. WORTHINGTON, CONDIT, and MOORE, be the committee to consider and report thereon. Mr. TRACY, from the committee to whom was referred the bill, entitled "An act authorizing the discharge of William Hearn from his imprisonment," reported the same with amendments; which were read. Agreeably to notice given on the 12th instant, Mr. WORTHINGTON asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill giving the assent of Congress to a MONDAY, January 19. The bill, entitled "An act authorizing the President of the United States to accept the service of a number of volunteer companies, not exceeding 30,000 men," was read the second time, and referred to Messrs. SMITH, of Maryland, BradLEY, and SUMTER, to consider and report thereon. The bill, entitled "An act providing for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States," was read the second time, and referred The bill, entitled "An act supplementary to the to the committee, appointed on the 8th of Decem-act, entitled 'An act making provision for the ber last, to whom was referred that part of the Mes- redemption of the whole of the public debt of the sage of the President of the United States, at the United States," was read the second time, and reopening of the session, which relates to this sub- ferred to Messrs. BALDWIN, GILES, SMITH, of Maject, to consider and report thereon. ryland, TRACY, and ADAMS, to consider and report thereon. On motion, by Mr. MOORE, the galleries were cleared; and two resolutions of the Legislature of the State of Virginia were presented and read, and ordered to lie for consideration. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House have passed a bill, entitled "An act authorizing the President of the United States to accept the service of a number of volunteer companies, not exceeding thirty thousand men ;" also, a bill, entitled "An act supplementary to the act, entitled 'An act The bill giving the assent of Congress to a proposition contained in the sixth section of the seventh article of the constitution of Ohio, was read the second time, and referred to Messrs. WORTHINGTON, BRADLEY, and GILES, to consider and report thereon. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the second reading of the bill, entitled "An act authorizing the erection of a bridge over the river Potomac, within the District of Colum |