The title of the bill having been amended by adding at the end the words and Missouri, the title as amended was agreed to.

Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in the said bill.

Mr. Granger, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined and found truly enrolled a resolution of the following title, viz:

H. Res. 1. Joint resolution authorizing the appointment of examiners to examine a steam floating battery at Hoboken, New Jersey. When

The Speaker signed the same.

Mr. Allen gave notice, under the rule, of his intention to move for leave to introduce a bill to increase the number of cadets at the Military Academy.

Mr. Stevens, by unanimous consent, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported a bill (H. R. 71) to provide additional revenues for defraying the expenses of government and maintaining the public credit by the assessment and collection of a direct tax and internal duties; which was read a first and second time, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Frederick A. Conkling, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 72) respecting bills of exchange and promissory notes; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

On motion of Mr. Duell, by unanimous consent,

Resolved, That the Committee on Revolutionary Claims be discharged from the further consideration of the claim of the administrator of Captain Charles Fierer, and that the demand be sent to the Department of the Interior with the accompanying report.

Mr. Francis P. Blair, jr., from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill of the Senate (S. 3) providing for the better organization of the military establishment, reported the same with an amendment, in the nature of a substitute therefor.

The House having proceeded to its consideration—

The said amendment was agreed to, and the bill ordered to be read a third time.

It was accordingly read the third time and passed.

Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in the said amendment.

Mr. Sedgwick, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the bill of the Senate (S. 14) for the better organization of the marine corps, reported the same with amendments.

The House having proceeded to its consideration

The said amendments were severally agreed to, and the bill ordered to be read a third time.

It was accordingly read the third time and passed.

Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in the said amendments.

On motion of Mr. Sedgwick, by unanimous consent, bills of the Senate of the following titles, viz:

S. 20. An act authorizing the appointment of an assistant Secretary of the Navy and fixing the salary of the same, and for other purposes;

S. 21. An act to increase the medical corps of the navy, and for other purposes; and

S. 36. An act to provide for the construction of one or more armored ships and floating batteries, and for other purposes;

were severally taken from the Speaker's table, read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. Frederick A. Conkling, from the select committee on a reduction of government expenses, reported the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That the committee appointed to report in what manner and to what extent the expenditures of the government may be reduced, shall have power to sit during the recess of Congress, and to send for persons and papers, and that a clerk may be appointed at the usual rate of compensation.

After debate,

The question was put, Will the House agree thereto ?

And it was decided in the negative.

So the said resolution was disagreed to.

Mr. Ward, by unanimous consent, from the Committee on Commerce, reported a bill (H. R. 73) to authorize the issue of a register to the steamer Estella; which was read a first and second time. Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed and read a third time. It was accordingly read the third time and passed.

Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate therein.

Mr. Ward moved that the vote by which the said bill was passed be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Mr. Eliot, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 74) to increase the consular representation of the United States during the present insurrection; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed.

The Speaker having proceeded, as the business next in order, to call the States and Territories for bills on leave and resolutions,

Mr. Hutchins introduced a bill (H. R. 75) defining the duties and fixing the compensation of the Clerk, Sergeant-at-arms, Postmaster, Doorkeeper, and Librarian, and settling the number and pay of the other employés of the House of Representatives, and for other purposes; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Accounts.

Mr. Burnett submitted the following resolution, viz:

Resolved, That the Secretary of War inform this House whether there are any negroes in the army of the United States which have been armed; whether there are negroes, the property of citizens of any of the revolted States, which have been used by the army in any character of military duty, throwing up of breastworks, making entrenchments, &c.; if so, at what places, and the number of slaves thus employed?

Pending which,

Mr. Burnett moved the previous question; which was seconded, and the main question ordered to be put,

When

On motion of Mr. Sheffield,

Ordered, That the said resolution be laid on the table.

Mr. Arnold submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz:

Resolved, That the select committee on the location of an armory be instructed to inquire into the expediency of locating such armory at Chicago.

On motion of Mr. Bingham, by unanimous consent, the bill of the Senate (S. 25) to confiscate property used for insurrectionary pur poses, was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. Roscoe Conkling, by unanimous consent, from the Committee for the District of Columbia, to whom was referred the bill of the Senate (S. 37) to regulate the police force of the city of Washington, reported the same, with a recommendation that it do not pass. Ordered, That the said bill be laid on the table.

And then,

On motion of Mr. Stratton, at 2 o'clock and 12 minutes p. m., the House adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 1861.

The following petitions were laid upon the Clerk's table, under the twenty-fourth rule of the House, to wit:

By Mr. Corning: The petition of citizens of St. Lawrence county, New York, for a compromise bill, embracing the Crittenden proposition.

By Mr. Nugen: The petition of John G. Smith and one hundred and fifty others, citizens of Coshocton county, Ohio, for a national convention, and a peaceful solution of our difficulties.

By Mr. W. G. Steele: The petition of citizens of New Jersey, of like import.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Mr. Ward: The petition of James M. Sanderson for the improvement of the cooking in the army; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

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

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill of this House of the following title, viz:

H. R. 64. An act to refund the duties on arms imported by the States; without amendment.

The Senate have also passed bills of the following titles, viz:

S. 38. An act making an appropriation to pay the expenses of transporting and delivering arms and munitions of war to the loyal citizens of the States, of which the inhabitants now are, or hereafter may be, in rebellion against the government of the United States, and to provide for the expense of organizing them into companies, battalions, regiments, or otherwise, for their own protection against domestic violence, insurrection, invasion, or rebellion; and

S. 42. An act in addition to the "Act to authorize the employment of volunteers to aid in enforcing the laws and protecting public property," approved July 22, 1861;

in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.

On motion of Mr. Stevens, by unanimous consent, the bill of the Senate (S. 41) supplementary to an act entitled "An act to authorize a national loan and for other purposes," was taken from the Speaker's table, read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

The Speaker having proceeded as the regular order of business to call the committees for reports,

Mr. Eliot, from the Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 14) to increase the consular representation of the United States during the present insurrection; reported the same without amendment.

Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed and read a third time. Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time and passed. Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate therein.

Mr. Eliot moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Mr. Sedgwick, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom were referred bills of the following titles, viz:

S. 36. An act to provide for the construction of one or more armored ships and floating batteries, and for other purposes;

S. 20. An act authorizing the appointment of an assistant Secretary of the Navy, and fixing the salary of the same, and for other purposes; and

S. 31. An act to increase the medical corps of the navy, and for other purposes;

reported the same severally with amendments, which amendments were severally agreed to, and the bills ordered to be read a third time.

They were thereupon severally read the third time and passed. Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in the amendments of the House to the said bills.

Mr. Sedgwick moved that the votes by which the said bills were passed be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

On motion of Mr. Francis P. Blair, jr., by unanimous consent, the bill of the Senate (S. 42) in addition to the act to authorize the employment of volunteers to aid in enforcing the laws and protecting public property, approved July 22, 1861, was taken from the Speaker's table, read three times, and passed.

Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith.

Mr. Francis P. Blair, jr., moved that the vote by which the said bill was passed be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. The Speaker appointed Mr. Lovejoy a member of the Committee on the Territories in the place of Mr. William Kellogg, excused.

Mr. Bingham, by unanimous consent, from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported the following resolution, which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz:

Resolved, That the President be requested immediately to communicate to this House, if in his judgment not incompatible with the public interest, the grounds, reasons, and evidence upon which the police commissioners of Baltimore were arrested, and are now detained as prisoners at Fort McHenry.

Mr. Bingham moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Mr. Stevens, by unanimous consent, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported a bill (H. R. 76) to provide for the payment of the police organized by the United States for the city of Baltimore; which was read a first and second time.

The House having, by unanimous consent, proceeded to its consideration,

Pending the question on its engrossment,