The question was taken on striking out the first section of the bill: and decided in the affirmative, 73 to 52.

The committee then rose.

On motion of Vir. Johnson, of Kentucky, the bill was ordered to lie on the table.

The bill from the Senate to enable the people The House resumed the regular order of the of the Alabama territory to form a state govern day, and went into a committee of the whole,ment, and the bill to suspend for a further limitMr. I Nelson in the chair, on the bill for the re-ed time the sale or forfeiture of lands, for failure lief of Kinsey and French. in completing the payments, were received from Some discussion took place on the merits of the Senate, severally twice real, and committed. their case, as well as on that of Charles S. Leon- The engrossed bill for the relief of Adam Kinsard, for whose relief it was proposed, by Mr.ley, Thomas French, and Charles L. Leonard, was Rich, to add a section to this bill, comprehending || read the third time, passed, and sent to the Senate the said Leonard in its provisions. This was finally for concurrence. agreed to in committee, and subsequently by the bouse, and the bill ordered to be engrossed.

The speaker communicated to the house a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting a statement of the debts, credits, and funds, of the banks of the District of Columbia, rendered in obedience to a resolution of this house, of the 7th instant. Wednesday, January 13.

Mr. Rhea, from the committee of pensions and revolutionary claims, reported a bill to provide for the payment of the pensions of persons under guardianship, to their guardians; which was twice read; when

Mr. Mills moved first to recommit the bill, but subsequently to lay it on the table, as there were cases which ought to be embraced in its provisions, which it did not now contain.

This motion, after some opposition by Mr. Rhea, prevailed; and the bill was laid on the ta

ble.

Mr. Robertson, from the committee on private land claims, made a report on the petition of Nicholas Jarrott, accompanied by a bill for his relief: which was twice read and committed.

site the point where the Cumberland road strikes the same, through St. Clairsville, to Columbus, from thence to the western line of the state of Ohio, in a direction to St. Louis, in Missouri territory.

Mr. Middleton, from the committee on that part of the President's Message which relates to the illicit introduction of slaves, reported a bill "in addition to the act for the prohibition of the slave trade;" which was twice read and committed.

The bill for the relief of Benjamin Poole, the bill for the relief of the heirs of Thomas Turner, deceased, and the bill for the relief of Henry Davis, severally passed through committees of the whole, Messrs. Smith, of Md. Pleasants, and Bassett, the chairmen, and were ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

The bill authorizing the payment of a sum of money, to the officers and crews of gun boats 149 and 154, was taken up in committee, Mr. Desha in the chair, the blank filled with 5482 dollars, and the bill ordered by the House to be engrossed.

The House then went into committee of the whole, Mr. Pleasants in the chair, on the bill for the relief of Kenzie and Forsyth (Indian traders, and providing them indemnification for a quantity of whiskey and powder, which they allowed to be destroyed to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy, during the late war with G. Britain.)

After some discussion of this bill, in which Mr. Rich and Mr. Storrs opposed, and Mr. Scott supported it;

The committee proceeded to take up the bill for the relief of John B. C. Lucas and Clement B. Penrose (allowing them additional compensation as land commissioners in Louisiana.)

This bill created also considerable discussion; after which,

On motion of Mr. Pindall, it was Resolved, That the committee on military affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of allowing a further time to the guardians of the minor children of deceased soldiers, to relinquish their claims to bounty lands for five years' half pay, as provided by the second section of an act, entitled "An act making further provision for military services during the late war, and for other purposes," approved the 16th April, 1816.

On motion of Mr. Crowell, it was

Resolved, That the committee on the public lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing by law the friendly chiefs and warriors of the Creek Indians to sell to the Uniteri States all their right and claim to such lands as have or may be reserved and located for them in the Alabama territory, in obedience to the first article of the treaty of the ninth day of August, 1814, making the reservation, and the law of Congress authorizing the location.

On motion of Mr. Herrick, it was Resolved, That the committee on roads and canals be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the appointment of commissioners to survey, lay out, and mark a road from the west bank of the Ohio river, oppo

l

The committee rose and reported the bills to the House; the former of which was ordered to be engrosed for a third reading; and the latter, after much additional discussion of its merits, was indefinitely postponed.

Thursday, January 14. Mr. Smith, of Maryland, reported a bill to amend the act "to continue in force the act further to provide for the collection of duties on imports and tonnage, and for other purposes," passed the 3d day of March, 1817; which was twice read and committed.

On motion of Mr. Newton, the committee of commerce and manufactures were discharged from the further cansideration of the resolution instructing them to inquire into the expediency of fixing a standard of weights and measures.

Mr. Bloomfield reported a bill for the relief of Bartlett Hinds, which was twice read and committed.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter. from the Secretary of War, transmitting a statement of the expenditure and application of the money drawn from the Treasury by him, during the year ending on the 30th September last, under the appropriations for the year 1818, and of the unexpended balance of former appropriations for the military establishment, remaining in the treasury on the first of October last; which was ordered to lie on the table.

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

continues the business of the last session over to (No. 3 this.

The Speaker laid before the House a report || from the Secretary of War, made in obedience to a resolution of this house, of the 10th of April last, instructing him to report a plan for the ap- the House to proceed to act on the bill, without It was contended by Mr. Clay, that it was for plication of such means as are within the power of reference to what might in this respect be the Congress to the purpose of opening and constuct-rule of the Senate; and by Messrs. Lowndes, Neling such roads and canals as may deserve and require the aid of government, with a view to mili- tually passed both Houses, except in regard to an son, Taylor and Pitkin, that this bill, having actary operations in time of war; and also, a state-amendment, could not be considered as comprement of the works, of the nature above mention-hended within the rule. ed, which have been commenced, the progress that has been made, and the means and prospects of their completion: which was ordered to lie on the table.

sing, leave to sit again being refused, and the bill The discussion resulted in the committee's ri being indefinitely postponed, by a vote of 56 to 51.

and that for the relief of M. Poire, both aide de The bill for the relief of the Marquis De Vien,

The Speaker also laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmit-camps of the Marquis La Fayette during the reting the annual statement of the district tonnage, volutionary war, passed through a committee of on the 31st of December, 1817; which was also the whole, and, after a few remarks from Mr. laid on the table. Harrison, in their favor, were ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

of the whole, Mr. Nelson in the chair, on the imThe House then resolved itselfinto a committee portant bill, reported at the last session, for the organization and discipline of the Militia of the United States.

rose, reported progress, and obtained leave to sit The bill was read through; when the committee again, leaving this the business of course for to

morrow.

On motion of Mr. Johnson, of Va. it was Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to inform the house (unless the communication of the information be, in his opinion, incompatible with the public interest) whether any application has been made by any of the independeut governments in South America, to have a minister or consul general accredited by the government of the United States, and what was the answer given to such application.

The engrossed bill for the relief of Benjamin Poole, was read a third time.

[This bill proposes to indemnify B. Poole, an assistant assessor in one of the collection districts of N. Hampshire, for the amount of a judgment given against him in the Supreme Court of the State of New Hampshire, in consequence of his having levied a tax on the property of a clergyman, under sanction of the opinion of the Attorney of the United States, of the District Court, and of the Attorney General, that the real perty of clergymen was liable to the direct tax.) Considerable debate took place on this bill, principally on the nature of the judgment, which, it was contended, by Mr. Mills and others, had been rendered on a case made up, without a trial of the facts by the jury, in such a manner as to authorize Congress to interfere. This objection was answered by Messrs Clagett, Livermore, and others; and

Captain Ross has completely succeeded in ex

pro-ploring every part of Baffin's Bay, and, with the

of verifying the statements of that old and able exception of errors in the latitudes and longitudes, navigator whose name it bears; and of ascertain. ing that no passage exists between the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean through Davis' Strait and Baffin's Bay, the whole being found to be surrounded by high land extending to the north as far as lat. 77, 55, and long. 76 W. and in the 74th degree of lat. stretching westward as far as 84 W. longitude.

The bill passed without a division, and was sent to the Senate.

au

The engrossed bill for the relief of Henry Davis; for the relief of Kenzie and Forsyth; thorizing the payment of a sum of money to the officers and crews of gun boats numbered 149 and 154, were severally read a third time, passed and sent to the Senate for concurrence.

VOYAGES AND DISCOVERIES.
NORTH-WEST EXPEDITION TO THE POLE.

From a late English Paper.

ships, are safely arrived at Brassa Sound, Lerwich, The Isabella and the Alexander, discovery all well; neither ship having lost a man, nor a man on the sick list.

They traced the same the whole way down to the Cape Walsingham of Davis, which they ascertained to lie in lat. 66 and long. 60-from hence they steered for Resolution Island, and stood

The Speaker laid before the House a reporting from the Navy Department, in pursuance of a resolution of the House, communicating certain information in respect to Navy Hospitals; which was laid on the table.

homeward.

They have made many curious observations and discoveries, of which, perhaps, will not be consifound to inhabit the Arctic Regions, between dered as the least interesting, that of a nation bethe latitudes of 76 and 78, who thought that the had succeeded generation of a people who had world to the South was all ice; that generation of a Supreme Being, who never had an enemy, never tasted the fruits of the earth, had no idea and whose chiefs had hitherto supposed themselves monarchs of the universe.

termination, if it has one, of Middleton's Repulse There now only remains to be discovered the to determine whether Greenland be an island or Bay, and, a few degrees to the Northward of it, joins America, and this might with the greatest "Hudson's Bay Company in any one season. ease be done from the northernmost station of the

BANKS.

A statement has appeared in the National Intelligencer, and has been republished in the newspapers generally, purporting to be extracted from

rested. But, it seems, the gentlemen who most

a Report from the Treasury Department, respect-strenuously advocated that report have been on

ing the state and condition of the Bank of the
United States on the 30th of September last.
The statement of debts due to the Bank of the
United States, is introduced with the following

remarks:

"The amount of debts due "from Banks pay ing specie" to the Bank, and its several branches, and the notes of Banks paying specie, on hand, after deducting therefrom the amounts due by the Bank and its branches to the said Banks, respectively, is thus stated:

At Philadelphia

(Signed,)

the watch to detect the executive in inconsistency. They had noticed that various roads were made, under the denomination of military roads, and that the expense of forming them had been paid for, from time to time, out of some fund not distinctly specified. When the appropriation bill in question was taken up, therefore, Mr. CLAY, in a pointed manner, called upon the chairman of the committee of ways and means to state to the House what particular item it was in the bill which was to be applied to the extra pay of soldiers for working on roads. The chairman (Gen. SAM. SMITH, of Maryland) could not point it out; and there he sat, satirically buffeted by the friends of internal improvement, as they call themselves, in sad perplexity. Mr. PHILIP P. BARBOUR, of Virginia, had been, on a former occasion, a decided adherent to the President's opinion; but seemed will

$1,745,375 73." From this statement, a belief prevails, that the State Banks of this city were indebted that amount to the Bank of the United States, on the 30th of September last. To counteract this impression, || and to give the public correct information on the subject, the undersigned cashiers of the city Banks, and of the Bank of the Northern Liberties, met at the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank on the 2d of January, 1819, and reported the balances of the accounts of their respective Institutions, with the Bank of the United States, as they stood on the 30th of September last; from which it ap-ing to vote for the military appropriation bill, peared, that taking the several debits against the road-work and all. Mr. Clay, with his usual Bank of the United States, and giving it the se. quickness, perceiving this inconsistency, very sarveral credits to which it was entitled with the Banks aforesaid, the Bank of the United States castically observed, that he did not want the inon that day, was collectively indebted to them the formation so much for himself as for his honorable sum of $49,829 14. friend from Virginia, (meaning Mr. Barbour.) This startled the latter gentleman, who defended himself with spirit, and was replied to in a very neat style by Mr. HENRY ST. GEORGE TUCKER. On the following day, the chairman of the committee of ways and means produced a written explanation from the Secretary of War, who pointed to the item embracing the intended expendi

committees, asserting an opinion directly opposite to that of the President. Here the business

HENRY DRINKER,
ELIHU CHAUNCEY,
QUINTIN CAMPBELL,
HENRY KUHL,
SAMUEL WILCOX,
J. WILLIAMS,
D. MANDEVILLE,
THOMAS WILSON.

Philadelphia, Jan. 2. 1819.

Editors who have republished the state-ture for road-work, and informed the chairman, ment from the National Intelligencer, will please to insert the above in their respective papers.

for the information of the House, that if it was
meant to separate that sum from the rest, 10,000
dollars were the amount contemplated for the ob-

EDITOR'S CABINET.
CITY OF WASHINGTON,
January 16, 1819.

The friends of internal improvement, thereupon, procured these 10,000 dollars to be inserted in the bill as a specific item, and in that shape it passed the House by a large majority. Their object appears to be to bring the President's opinion practically to the test; so as to compel him to re

History of Congress.-In order to understand the nature of the discussion which arose in the Houseject the bill or to act inconsistently with his own of Representatives on the 6th instant, upon the principle: And should the bill pass the Senate in bill making appropriations for the support of the its present form, he will be actually placed in that military cotablishment of the United States for the dilemma. Several attempts were made in the year 1819, it is necessary to recall to the reader's Ilouse to mask the question by clothing it in equirecollection the fact that President MONROE, in vocal words; such as saying "for working on," his message at the opening of the first session of &c. instead of "the construction of," &c. But the fifteenth Congress, informed that body that he nothing would satisfy the majority but the was of opinion that the constitution forbid his sanc- plainest terms; and we think they were right in tion of any bill appropriating money for the con- that particular. Not that we entirely concur with struction of roads and canals. The House, during these "friends of internal improvement," as they the same session, in some sort, took fire at this in- proudly style themselves; for we believe, with timation, and adopted a report from one of its President Monroe, that the framers of the consti

[Note.-The National Intelligencer, we believe, copied from the Documents laid before Congress. The mother Bank of the United States at Philadelphia, is the proper source of replyject. to the foregoing.]

tution never intended that the funds of the gene-|| cable to criminal jurisprudence, which asserts as ral government should be expended upon roads a principle, that after murders have been comand canals. But we conceive, at the same time,mitted, the murderers ought not to be punished, that those who are of our way of thinking ought to because, there being no cause to fear other murbe consistent: They should pursue with strictaess ders, there is no "“absolute necessity" for it? the principle which they have, in this respect, Are not all punishments intended to operate in avowed, and not do that indirectly, the doing of terrorem as to the future? And what would be which in a direct manner they have declared the thought of any government, or officer of a governconstitution does not sanction. We are sorry toment, that should, after detecting a murderer, say, that, in this instance, Messrs. Clay and Tucker let him run at large, unwhipt of justice, because, have greatly the advantage. There is, in fact, aby superior force, the remainder of society were difficulty in the case, arising, as we presume, from protected from his outrages? We have not room the double governments prevailing among us- this week to enlarge on the subject; but we shall state and national. The sooner the question is pay our respects to this report more in form next settled the better; and the best method of settling week; not doubting, in the mean time, that the it, as we think, is to submit it at once, by way of report will be most severely lashed in the House amendment to the constitution, for the considera- of Representatives. tion of the state legislatures.

This military appropriation bill, which, in many respects, has had a rough time in the House, gave rise also to a thrust or two at General JACKGON. Only to think what different effects an Indian war has upon different constitutions! Mr. MERCER, of Virginia, cannot sleep upon his pillow (as he told the House) for the uneasiness occasi-ly, is in the dotted style.

oned in his head by the incidents of the Seminole campaign; whilst General SAM. SMITH, of Mary. land, is not at all (as he says) disturbed in his slumbers by them. One honorable gentleman was for cutting off General Jackson by reducing the number of Major Generals; another, probably not with the same view, is for reducing the army. Such are the conceptions which the military ap propriation bill either revived or brought forth at the moment.

Delaplaine's Repository.-The first part of the second volume
of this invaluable work has been just presented to the public.
It contains the Portraits and the Biographies of Samuel
Adams, George Clinton, Henry Laurens, Benjamin Franklin, -
Francis Hopkinson, and Robert Morris.

The styles of the several engravings are different. That of Adams, by Goodman and Piggott, from the original of Cope

That of Clinton, by Maverick, from the original of Ames, is in line engraving, of the middle French period.

Laurens is also in line, something in the style of the German

school. It is by Nagle, from a painting of the elder Peale,

Franklin is in the dotted style, by Longacre, said to be from an original by Martin. It has a very rich appearance, and presents an elegance of expression which we have never hereto

fore seen in a head of Franklin.

Hopkinson, by J. Heath, from an original by Pine, is in the dotted style.

Morris is likewise by Heath, and also from an original by Pine, in the dotted style,

The paper and typography of the work are beautiful, and are an incontestable proof of the progress of the arts in the

United States.

This Repository of the Features and Lives of distinguished Americans, has a powerful, and, indeed, a paramount, claim on the patronage of the community. It unites, in a classical and familiar manner, the advantages of the Statue, of the Picture, and of History. It is a record of virtue, patriotism, and exalted talents; bringing home, as it were, to the bosoms of families, the forms and the ideas which have contributed so much to human liberty and happiness, and which may still continue, thus rescued, as it were, from the vagueness of tradition and the oblivion of the grave, to inspire the sons and daugh

General Jackson, however, is not to be let off with so slender a notice. The committee on military affairs has reported, pro and con. with respect to his conduct. Mr. THOMAS M. NELSON, ON Tuesday last, brought in a report unfriendly to the general. Mr. RICHARD M. JOHNSON brought in another approving his conduct: and they have been both referred to a committe of the whole House on the state of the union, and it is expected will be discussed on Monday next, and for many days inters of Columbia with those magnanimous sentiments, the persuccession. This acceptance of contradictory repetuation of which is indispensable, to the preservation of the blessings of freedom. ports is a very unusual course, and will form, we fear, a bad legislative precedent. The report, or rather protest, in favor of General Jackson, was, in truth, not in the least necessary. The unfriendly report was only carried by a majority of one, as we are told, in the committee on military affairs; and it is so feeble in point of argument, that we doubt whether it will not prove, in the sequel, from the ease with which it may be refut-for want of pecuniary encouragement. Whilst we pay hom ed, more advantageous to the General than the age to the great qualities of the Heroes of the Revolution, and to those of the illustrious men who have succeeded them, we one professing to be friendly to him. What, for are bound, in interest and in honor, to consecrate their wellexample, can be said of that reasoning, as appli- learned fame by every rational means within our power.

The Biographies, in general, are well written; some, however, much better than others. The engravings and the lite rary composition of the liyes contained in the unce numbers already published, must have cost Mr. Delaplaine a great deal of money; and it is not without pain we have understood that his expenditures have been considerably more than his receipts. But perseverance, we are persuaded, will crown bis efforts with success and emolument, There is too much generous feeling in the hearts of the American people to allow a national work, at once splendid and useful, to be discontinued

No. 4.]

WASHINGTON CITY, JANUARY 23, 1819.

[VOL. VI

Printed and Published, every Saturday, by Lawrence, Wilson, & Co. at five dollars per annum.

The committee are aware, that from these sources of information various important inferen-into ces may be drawn, and upon them the most interesting opinions may be predicated; it has been their intention, however, to go no further than was required by the resolution of the house; to || avoid speculative opinions on general subjects; and to confine themselves to what they deemed practical objects of inquiry, which they settled among themselves previous to entering upon the investigation. These objects seemed to divide themselves into two classes: those which related to the general management of the bank, and the conduct of its officers; and those which were connected with the question of a violation of its charter. As to the general management of the con cerns of the institution-among the points of inquiry which appeared to be most immediately interesting, were those which related to the refusal of the bank and its offices to pay its notes in specie at any other place than that where they were made payable; and to the practice of selling draftsed on each other.