The message and accompanying documents were read.

Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, submitted the following motion for consideration:

Resolved, That a select committee be appointed to inquire into the expediency of providing for the preservation and repairing the national turnpike road, beginning at Cumberland, on the Potomac, and terminating at Wheeling, on the Ohio river, and that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise.

On motion,

The Senate adjourned.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1821.

Mr. Dickerson gave notice that to-morrow he should ask leave to introduce a resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution of the United States, as it respects the choice of Electors of the President and Vice President of the United States, and the election of Representatives in the Congress of the United States.

Mr. Holmes, of Maine, presented the petition of Daniel Merrill, a citizen of the United States, praying compensation for services rendered during the Revolutionary war, as stated in the petition; which was read; and,

On motion, by Mr. Holmes,

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Claims, to consider and report thereon.

Mr. Eaton presented the petition of R. P. Currin, and others, praying the confirmation of their title to certain lands; and the petition was read.

On motion, by Mr. Eaton,

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Public Lands, to consider and report thereon.

Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, gave notice that to-morrow he should ask leave to introduce a bill supplementary to the several acts for adjusting the claims to land, and establishing land offices, in the districts east of the Island of New Orleans.

Mr. Williams, of Tennessee, submitted the following motion for consideration:

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before the Senate a report of the practical operation of the system of subsisting the army, under the provisions of the act

passed the 14th of April, 1818; together with a comparative view of the present and former mode of supplying the army.

Mr. Barton gave notice that to-morrow he should ask leave to introduce a bill concerning the lands and salt springs to be granted to the State of Missouri for the purposes of education, and for other public uses.

Agreeably to notice given, Mr. Barbour asked and obtained leave to introduce a resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution of the United States, so as to limit the number of Representatives in the Congress of the United States; and the resolution was read. Ordered, That it pass to the second reading.

On motion, by Mr. Van Buren,

Ordered, That Nicholas Welch have leave to withdraw his petition and papers, presented at the First Session of the Sixteenth Congress.

On motion, by Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky,

Ordered, That Samuel Farral have leave to withdraw his petition and papers, presented at the same session.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion of the 17th instant, for the appointment of a committee on the Cumberland road; and having modified the same,

Resolved, That a committee be appointed on Roads and Canals. Ordered, That Mr. Johnson of Kentucky, Mr. King of New York, Mr. Lowrie, Mr. Macon, and Mr. Mills, be the committee. On motion,

The Senate adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1821.

The Honorable Ninian Edwards, from the State of Illinois, arrived on the 17th instant, and attended this day.

The President communicated a memorial from the Legislature of the State of Alabama, relative to the organization of the federal courts in that State, and urging the expediency of completing the fortifications commenced at Mobile, and discontinued some time ago for the want of the necessary appropriations; and the memorial was read.

On motion, by Mr. Walker,

Ordered, That it be printed for the use of the Senate, and that so much thereof as relates to courts be referred to the Committee on the

Judiciary, and so much as relates to fortifications be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, respectively, to consider and report thereon.

Mr. Pleasants presented the memorial of sundry Agricultural Societies of the State of Virginia, setting forth various reasons for a reduction of the existing duties on imports, and praying that all duties, which amount to partial or total prohibition, be repealed; and the memorial was read.

On motion, by Mr. Pleasants,

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures, to consider and report thereon.

Mr. Thomas presented the resolution of the Legislature of the State of Illinois, praying to be authorized to construct a canal connecting the waters of Lake Michigan with the Illinois river, and also a donation of a certain quantity of land for that purpose; and the resolution was read.

On motion, by Mr. Thomas,

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals, to consider and report thereon.

Mr. Morril presented the resolutions of the Legislature of the State of New Hampshire, in relation to the granting of land to the old States, for the purposes of education; and the resolutions were read.

On motion, by Mr. Morril,

Ordered, That they lie on the table.

Mr. Knight reported, from the committee, that they had, on the 18th instant, laid before the President of the United States the enrolled bill, entitled "An act authorizing the transmission of certain documents free of postage."

Mr. Knight presented the petition of John Spurr, praying to be placed on the pension list.

On motion, by Mr. Knight,

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Pensions, to consider and report thereon.

Mr. Williams, of Mississippi, presented the memorial of Daniel W. Cox, of Philadelphia, praying the confirmation of his title to certain land in the state of Louisiana; and the memorial was read; and, On motion, by Mr. Williams,

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Public Lands, to consider and report thereon.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion of the 18th instant, for information in relation to the system of subsisting the army of the United States; and,

On motion, by Mr. Williams, of Tennessee,

Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow.

Agreeably to notice given, Mr. Dickerson asked and obtained leave to introduce a resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution of the United States, as it respects the choice of Electors of the President and Vice President of the United States, and the election of Representatives in the Congress of the United States; and the resolution was read.

Ordered, That it pass to the second reading.

Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, called up the memorial, presented at the last session, of Paul Lanusse and F. Bailly Blanchard, merchants of the city of New Orleans, praying that a law may pass granting to them the benefit of drawback on certain merchandise exported by them in 1819, which is withheld from them in consequence of their having neglected to take the " export oath" within the prescribed time; and the memorial was read; and,

On motion, by Mr. Johnson,

Ordered, That be referred to the Committee on Finance, to consider and report thereon.

Agreeably to notice given, Mr. Barton asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill concerning the lands and salt springs to be granted to the state of Missouri for the purposes of education, and for other public uses; and the bill was read.

Ordered, That it pass to the second reading.

Mr. King, of Alabama, presented the petition of Meker & Brown, and others, of Blakely, Alabama, praying that the said town may be made a port of entry, for reasons stated in the petition; which was read; and,

On motion, by Mr. King,

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures, to consider and report thereon.

The resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution of the United States, so as to limit the number of Representatives in the Congress of the United States, was read the second time.

On motion, by Mr. Barbour,

Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed to, and made the order of the day for, the third Monday in January next.

On motion,

The Senate adjourned.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1821.

The President communicated a report from the Secretary of State, respecting the execution of the act providing for the fourth census; and the report was read.

On motion, by Mr. Holmes, of Maine,

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, to consider and report thereon.

Mr. Williams, of Tennessee, presented the memorial of the Legislature of the state of Tennessee, praying compensation may be made to those who lost horses and other property in the Seminole war; and the memorial was read; and,

On motion, by Mr. Williams,

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Claims, to consider and report thereon.

Mr. Lowrie presented the memorial of James Leander Cathcart, praying for relief in the settlement of his accounts at the Treasury, as stated in the memorial; which was read.

On motion, by Mr. Lowrie,

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Claims, to consider and report thereon.

Mr. Holmes, of Maine, submitted the following motion for consideration:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to communicate to the Senate the names and compensations of the deputies and clerks who are, or have been, employed by any officer of the customs since the year 1816.

Mr. Thomas presented the resolutions of the Legislature of the state of Illinois, concurring in some, and disagreeing to other, amendments proposed to the constitution of the United States by the state of Pennsylvania; and the resolutions were read.

Mr. Lowrie presented the petition of William Russell, of Pennsylvania, praying to be placed on the list of Revolutionary pensioners; and the petition was read.

On motion, by Mr. Lowrie,