A petition and remonstrance of the Merchants of George Town and Bladensburg, in the State of Maryland, was presented to the House and read, stating sundry incon veniences under which they labor from the operation of the laws of trade, and praying relief therein.

Ordered, That the said petition and remonstrance do lie on the table.

The House proceeded to consider the report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the petition of James Warren: Whereupon,

A motion being made and seconded "That the sum of three hundred eighty-four dollars, and ninety-two cents be allowed and paid to Major General James Warren, in full for so much short paid him upon a warrant of Congress on the State of Massachusetts, in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one:"

It passed in the negative.

Ordered, That the Secretary of the Department of War be directed to lay before the House an account of the troops, (including the militia,) and also of the ordnance stores furnished from time to time by the several States, towards the support of the late war: And that the Commissioners for settling the Accounts of the United States with the respective States, be directed to lay before the House an abstract of the claims of the several States against the United States, specifying the principles on which the claims are founded.

Ordered, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to report the sums of money, including indents and paper money of every kind, reduced to specie value, which have been received from, or paid to, the several States by Congress, from the commencement of the Revolution to the present period.

Ordered, That the Commissioners for settling Accounts between the United States and individual States, report the amount of such claims of the States as have been offered to them since the time expired for receiving claims, specifying the principles on which the claims are founded, and distinguishing them from other claims.

The several orders of the day were read, and postponed until Monday next.
And then the House adjourned until Monday morning cleven o'clock.

MONDAY, APRIL 26.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter and reports from the Secretary of War on the several petitions of William Oliver, Edward Thompson, Leonard Young, and Peter Smith; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table.

A petition of Isaac Spencer, executor, &c. of Joseph Spencer, deceased, was presented to the House and read, praying the settlement and payment of a debt due to the estate of the decedent from the United States. Also,

A petition of Messrs. Bertier and Company, of the City of Philadelphia, merchants, praying relief against a seizure of sundry goods, the property of the petitioners, for a supposed violation of the laws of trade.

Ordered, That the said petitions do lie on the table.

The House proceeded to consider the report of the Secretary of War on the petition of Nathaniel Gove: Whereupon,

Ordered, That the said report, together with the several other reports of the said Secretary of War, on the petitions of Charles Markley, Jeremiah Ryan, John Stevens, David Poole, Joseph M'Gibbon Stephen Califfe, Ephraim M'Coy, Christian Khun, and David Steel, be referred to the commitee appointed to prepare and bring in a bill or bills for the relief of disabled Soldiers and Seamen, with instruction to the said committee to insert a clause or clauses making provision for the said petitioners respectively, pursuant to the tenor of the said report.

A petition of Benjamin Harwood, of the State of Maryland, was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for services rendered to the United States during

the late war.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union be discharged from further proceedings on the plan of the Secretary of War for the general arrangement of the Militia of the United States, and that the said plan be referred to the committee appointed to prepare and bring in a bill or bills providing for the national defence.

On a motion made and seconded that the House do agree to the following order, to wit:

"That the Committee of the Whole House on the report of the Secretary of the Treasury relative to a provision for the support of the public credit, be for the present

discharged from prooceding on so much of the said report as relates to an assumption of

the State debts:"

The previous question was demanded by five members, Shall the main question to agree to the said order be now put? And on the question, Shall the main question be now put?

It was resolved in the affirmative, Ayes 2 Noes

And then the main question being put, that the House do agree to the said order,

The ayes and noes being demanded by one-fifth of the members present,

Those who voted in the affirmative, are,

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, relative to a provision for the support of the public credit.

Mr. Speaker left the chair.

Mr. Livermore took the chair of the committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Livermore reported that the committee had, according to order, again had the said report under consideration, and come to several resolutions thereupon; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same were severally twice read, and agreed to by the House, as follow:

"Resolved, That it is advisable to endeavor to effect a new modification of the domestic debt, with the voluntary consent of the creditors, by a loan, upon terms mutually beneficial to them and to the United States.

Resolved, That, for the purpose expressed in the last preceding resolution, subscriptions towards a loan ought to be opened, to the amount of the said domestic debt, upon the terms following to wit:

That for every hundred dollars subscribed, payable in the said debt (as well interest as principal) the subscriber be entitled at his option, either

To have two thirds funded at an annuity or yearly interest of six per cent. redeemable at the pleasure of the Government, by payment of the principal, and to receive the other third in lands in the Western Territory, at the rate of twenty cents per acre; Or,

To have the whole sum funded at an annuity or yearly interest of four per cent. irredeemable by any payment exceeding six dollars per annum on account both of principal and interest, and to receive as a commpensation for the reduction of interest, fifteen dollars and eighty cents, payable in lands as in the preceding case; Or,

To have sixty-six dollars and two-thirds of a dollar funded immediately, at an annuity or yearly interest of six per cent. irredeemable by any payment exceeding six dollars per annum, on account both of principal and interest; and to have, at the end of seven years, thirty-three dollars and one-third of a dollar, funded at the like interest and rate of redemption.

Resolved, That immediate provision ought to be made for the present debt of the United States.

Resolved, That the funds which shall be appropriated according to the second of the foregoing resolutions, be applied, in the first place, to the payment of interest on the sums subscribed towards the proposed loan; and that, if any part of the said domestic debt shall remain unsubscribed, the surplus of the said funds be applied, by a temporary appropriation, to the payment of interest on the unsubscribed part, so as not to exceed, for the present, four per cent. per annum ; but this limitation shall not be understood to impair the right of the non-subscribing creditors to the residue of the interest on their respective debts: And in case the aforesaid surplus should prove insufficient to pay the non-subscribing creditors, at the aforesaid rate of four per cent. that the faith of Government be pledged to make good such deficiency."

Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in pursuant to the said resolutions, as also, to the resolutions reported from the said committee, and agreed to by the House on the 29th ult. and that Mr. Stone, Mr. White, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Clymer, and Mr. Gilman, do prepare and bring in the same.

Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the said report.

The several orders of the day were read, and postponed until to-morrow.
And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock.

TUESDAY, APRIL 27.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter and reports from the Postmaster General, on the petition of Christopher Colles; and also on the several matters submitted to him by an order of the House of the 15th inst. ; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Boudinot, from the committee appointed, presented, according to order, a bill to provide for mitigating or remitting the Forfeitures and Penalties accruing under the revenue laws, in certain cases therein mentioned; which was received, and read the first time.

The House, according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the report of the Secretary of the Treasury relative to a provision for the support of the public credit.

Mr. Speaker left the chair.

Mr. Livermore took the chair of the committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Livermore reported that the committee had, according to order, again had the said report under consideration, and come to several resolutions thereupon; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same were severally twice read, and agreed to by the House, as follow: "Resolved, That, from and after the

day of

next, in lieu of the duties now payable upon wines and distilled spirits imported into the United States, there shall be paid the following rates:

Upon every gallon of Madeira wine called London particular, thirty-five cents :

Upon every gallon of other Madeira wine, thirty cents:

Upon every gallon of Sherry wine, twenty-five cents:

Upon every gallon of other wine, twenty cents:

Upon every gallon of distilled spirits, more than ten per cent. below proof, according to Dicas's hydrometer, twenty cents:

Upon every gallon of those spirits under five, and not more than ten per cent. below proof, according to the same hydrometer, twenty-one cents:

Upon every gallon of those spirits of proof, and not more than five per cent. below proof, according to the same hydrometer, twenty-two cents:

Upon every gallon of those spirits above proof, but not exceeding twenty per cent. according to the same hydrometer, twenty-five cents:

Upon every gallon of those spirits more than twenty, and not more than forty per cent. above proof, according to the same hydrometer, thirty cents:

VOL. I.-26.

Upon every gallon of those spirits more than forty per cent. above proof, according

to the same hydrometer, forty cents: Resoived, That, from and after the

day of

in lieu of the duties now payable

upon teas and coffee imported into the United States, there shall be paid,

Upon every pound of hyson tea, forty cents:

Upon every pound of other green tea, twenty-four cents:

Upon every pound of souchong or other black tea, other than bohea, twenty cents: Upon every pound of bohea tea, twelve cents:

day of

Upon every pound of coffee, five cents. Resolved, That, from and after the there be paid upon spirits distilled within the United States, from molasses, sugar, or other foreign manufacture: Upon every gallon of those spirits more than ten per cent. below proof, according to Dicas's hydrometer, eleven cents:

Upon every gallon of those spirits under five, and not more than ten per cent. below proof, according to the same hydrometer, twelve cents:

Upon every gallon of those spirits of proof, and not more than five per cent. below proof, according to the same hydrometer, thirteen cents:

Upon every gallon of those spirits above proof, but not exceeding twenty per cent. according to the same hydrometer, fifteen cents:

Upon every gallon of those spirits more than twenty, and not more than forty per cent. above proof, according to the same hydrometer, twenty cents:

Upon every gallon of those spirits more than forty per cent above proof, according to the same hydrometer, thirty cents.

Resolved, That, from and after the

day of

there be paid upon spirits distilled within the United States, in any city, town or village, from materials the growth or production of the United States:

Upon every gallon more than ten per cent. below proof, according to Dicas's hydrometer, nine cents:

Upon every gallon of those spirits under five, and not more than ten per cent. below proof, according to the same hydrometer, ten cents:

Upon every gallon of those spirits, of proof, and not more than five per cent. below proof, according to the same hydrometer, eleven cents:

Upon every gallon of those spirits, above proof, but not exceeding twenty per cent. according to the same hydrometer, thirteen cents:

Upon every gallon of those spirits, more than twenty, and not more than forty per cent. above proof, according to the same hydrometer, seventeen cents :

Upon every gallon of those spirits, more than forty per cent. above proof, according to the same hydrometer, twenty-five cents:

And upon all stills employed in distilling spirits from materials of the growth or production of the United States, in any other place than a city, town, or village, there be paid the yearly sum of sixty cents for every gallon, English wine measure, of the capactity of each still, including its head; or cents per gallon for all spirits distilled

from grain; or — cents per gallon for all spirits distilled from fruit."

Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in pursuant to the said resolutions, and that Mr. Fitzsimons, Mr. Huntington, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Contee, and Mr. Bloodworth, do prepare and bring in the same.

Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the said report.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary:

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill, entitled "An act to continue in force an act passed at the last session of Congress, entitled 'An act to regulate Processes in the Courts of the United States," to which they desire the concurrence of this House. And then he withdrew,

Mr. Gilman, from the Joint Committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee bad examined the enrolled bill, entitled "An act for regulating the Military EstabJishment of the United States," and had found the same to be truly enrolled: Whereupon,

Mr. Speaker signed the said enrolled bill.

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill providing the means of intercourse between the United States and foreign nations.

Mr. Speaker left the chair.

Mr. Livermore took the chair of the committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Livermore reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill under consideration, and made several amendments thereto; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same were read, and, together with the said bill, ordered to lie on the table.

Ordered, That Mr. Thatcher, Mr. Wadsworth, Mr. Benson, Mr. Boudinot, Mr. Sumpter, Mr. Seney, and Mr. Parker, be added to the committee appointed to prepare and bring in a bill or bills providing for the national defence.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Whole House to whom was committed the bill for regulating the Post Office of the United States, be discharged from further proceeding thereon, and that the said bill, together with the report of the Postmaster General on the several matters submitted to him by an order of the House of the fifteenth inst. be referred to Mr. Livermore, Mr. Ames, Mr. Huntington, Mr. Silvester, Mr. Wynkoop, Mr. Smith, (of Maryland,) Mr. Moore, Mr. Steele, Mr. Tucker, Mr. Baldwin, and Mr. Vining.

On motion,

Ordered, That the copy of an act of the Legislature of the State of South Carolina, entitled "An act for ceding to and vesting in the United States, the light-house on Middle-Bay Island, within the bar of Charleston harbor," which lay on the table, be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

Ordered, That the petitions of John Holbrook, and Lemuel Cravath, which were presented on the nineteenth of January, last, be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

The several orders of the day were read, and postponed until to-morrow,
And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28.

A bill to provide for mitigating or remitting the Forfeitures and Penalties accruing under the revenue laws, in certain cases therein mentioned, was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-day.

The bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act to continue in force an act passed at the last session of Congress, entitled 'An act to regulate Processes in the Courts of the United States," was read the second time.

A petition of Jean Boand, of the city of New York, was presented to the House and read, praying relief against the payment of double tonnage, which has been exacted from him under what he conceives to be a misconstruction of the laws of trade.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee to whom was referred the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, of the twenty-third instant, respecting difficulties which have occurred in the execution of the several laws for collecting duties on goods, wares and merchandises, and on tonnage, and for regulating the coasting trade; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House.

Ordered, That the committee to whom was referred the act of the Legislature of the State of New York, entitled “An act ceding the light-house and land at Sandy Hook to the United States," be discharged from further proceeding thereon, and that the said act be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to take order pursuant thereto.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill to provide for mitigating or remitting the Forfeitures and Penalties accruing under the revenue laws, in certain cases therein mentioned. Mr. Speaker left the chair.

Mr. Livermore took the chair of the committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Livermore reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill under consideration, and made no amendment thereto.

Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed, and read the third time to-morrow.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act for the Govern ment of the Territory of the United States South of the river Ohio."

Mr. Speaker left the chair.

Mr. Livermore took the chair of the committee.