nominations should not be agitated in this House. It might be true that no difficulty would arise now in relation to this matter, but a time might come when there would be a difficulty. Ten years ago there would have been no difficulty in settling the question which has been distracting us here for nearly a month. Now was the t'me, therefore, for taking some action on this subject, if we wish to avoid all difficulty kereafter. This matter of sectarianism might create no difficulty for some time, but a time might come when it would. It was not two hundred years since a king of England was required to make a formal decla ration of religious tolerance; it was not one hundred years since a man in this land of liberty dare not think religiously as he pleased; and it was scarce fifty years ago since, by the adoption of our Constitution, it was found necessary to declare that no religious tests should be required.

All history tells us that this matter was one which never failed to force itself on every Government, and to connect itself with the organic Government for the purpose of carrying out its objects. But he said this was not the season for such duties. In the morning or at evening, if he were asked whether we should attend to our closet or private devotions, he would say it was becoming and appropriate. In this hall, at the hour of twelve, habitually, we meet to do the daily work of the country, as servants of the people. Would the husbandman, after attending to his daily morning devotions, assemble his laborers again in the field to do and repeat the like service? If this was a convention for some great and special occasion, such services would be appropriate. This, he said, is not the place. Is the man of your choice, said he, a devout man, full of the spirit of the gospel? He will lead us to the temples of the Most High, where in solemn voice he will declare to us the being of a God, and the ruths of his religion-where he can hear chanted the songs of Zion. Does he come to show us the "river of water of life, clear as crystal?" He will take us to the tabernacle of the congregatiors, there to spread the heavenly chart, in which is shown the course of that blessed stream. Dces he appear to point us to the "lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world?" He will invite us to the house of God, in which is spread the table of the Lord, bearing the reminiscences of his love.

But does he come to make merchandise of his calling? Here, then, (if he was not misinformed,) is the place where men in high places meet to drive bargains. Here, too, he may have his contract signed, sealed, and delivered, whereby, for and on consideration of a certain number of prayers, sui ably short, a given number of sermons, not too song, singing excep ed, by him, the said chaplain, uttered and delivered, we, the members of this House, do agree to be and appear in our seats on such occasions, devoutly and in order to listen, and after a certain time to pay h ́m $500.

In the execution of this contract, it is remarkable, that, by usage, this House is not expected to perform only that part of their engagement, which requires the payment of the money, being at liberty to set, or stand, or walk in, or remain out, and even employ themselves in writing letters during morning service.

It is, sir, said Mr. COOFER, to avert this deleterious example, and prevent the insinuation of religious denominations, by sects, into this House, that I urge a reconsideration, that we may not exercise powers not granted, and may prevent a union of Church and State.

Mr. R. GARLAND was glad this motion had been made, as it would give him an opportunity to record his vote against the resolution for the ap pointment of a chaplain. He was disposed to respect ministers of the Gospel when they conducted themselves properly, as any other gentleman, although he did not profess or practise religion himself; yet he had seen enough in this hall to prevent him from ever supporting a resolution for the appointment of a chaplain for this House. He had seen the claims of ministers urged upon this House upon the ground of the political predilections, and one had been elected upon the sole ground that he was a friend

of the President of the United States. Men coming before the House on such pretensions, threw disgrace upon the country and upon the gospel, and he hoped the House would no longer sanction it. There was a regular system of electioneering for the office of chaplain, and the general inquiry was, does he make short prayers-the person making the shortest prayers being the greatest favorite. Besides while the chaplain was making his morning prayers, a large por ion of the members were reading newspapers, or walking about the Hall. In fact, the service was nothing more than a solemn farce, and he trusted the House would dispense with the chaplain.

Mr. WISE said this was the first time since he had been in public life that the propriety of appointing a man of God, to remind us of our daily duty to God, had been questioned. Sir, (said Mr. W.) I can with truth say that I am among the vil st of sinners in this body; I can with truth say that I have more personal reasons, if personal reasons were to govern me, for opposing the election of a chaplain, than any other gentleman on this floor; but, sir, there is no consideration that would make me, a representative of the people on this floor, a member of a House of Commons in a representative Republic, divorce a Republic from the God of nations. Let me tell those who are now desirons ef divorcing the State from the Church, that they cannot divorce a nation from the God of heaven. He has more power than you have to dispense with nations as with individuals; and who will pretend to say that no good may be done by making our acknowledgments here, as it were, with the uplifted hands of a nation, that there is a good Providence which presides over the destinies of the nation. If there be any one thing more opposed to the existence of a Republic, it is infidelity. Infidelity was the handmaid of anarchy in France, and he trusted that we would not encourage it by departing from the example of our forefathers. Gentlemen had spoken of the unconstitutionality of this appointment, but he would not examine into the constitutionality of a question of this kind. The situation of chaplain might have been, and he believed it had been, filled with hypocrites, but there had been illustrious examples to the reverse. He referred, as an example, to that pious and holy gentleman of the Protestant Methodist persuasion, Mr. Stockton, and he was also referred, by a gentleman near, to the Rev. Mr. Reese. These men had been elected without electioneering, and he believed they had done much good. He himself had felt the benefits of this service. He had come into the hall at the hour of meeting, his bosom rankling with party passions; but after hearing the supplications of the man of God, he became composed and tranquil. He would, therefore, vote for the appointment of a chaplain now and forever.

Mr. NISBET opposed the motion to reconsider. He thought it would be a stain upon the journals if the members of this House, the Representatives of the greatest nation upon earth, should, at this period of our history, rescind the resolution for the appointment of an individual to perform religious service in this hall. He considered the arguments against the appointment of a chaplain morc specious than sound; and assured gentlemen that the people of this country not only looked up to us to set a good example in this respect, but required of us to do this much, for the sake of Christianity. His colleague and the gentleman from Louisiana, had urged upon us a divorce of Church and State, but he thought if gentlemen would go to New England, and ask of the descentants of the pilgrim fathers what civil liberty in this country owed to the church, they would receive for answer that it owed every thing to it. The pilgrims fled from another country, because they were persecuted on account of their religious opinions, and in this country they brought religion to aid in the establishment of our liberties.

That grave and venerable body which framed our present form of Government, had the benefit of the prayers of the ministers of that day, and Congress had adopted the practice of electing persons to perform religious service, and he hoped we would not now take upon ourselves to dispense

with the services of the clergy. If there had been improper conduct on the part of some of the clergy, he considered that to be an insufficient argument to warrant us in dispensing with their services entirely. He believed that the religious feeling of the people of this country expec'ed this much of us, and he would never consent to dispense with the services of the minister of God in this hall.

Mr. SLADE said his constituents felt a very deep interest in this subject, and he trusted the House would not dispense with the services of a chaplain. He desired most heartily to thank the gentleman from Virginia, [Mr. WISE,] in his own name, and in the name of his constituents, for the speech which he had made on this occasion. It was the more gratifying to him, because, from what he knew of the gentleman, he knew that that speech had been forced from him by the convictions which his religious educat on had implanted in his bosom, and which he felt assured pervaded the great mass of the gentleman's constituents. We receive our first impressions on religi us subjects, to a cousiderable extent, from ministers of the gospel, and why should there be the slightest objection raised to having one perform services in this hall; and he held that there was not the slightest danger to be apprehended of a union of Church and State from this course.

Mr. CRABB said he could not have anticipated, when he made his motion, that it would give rise to so much discussion; but had he foreseen its effects, it would have been an additional motive with him for submitting his motion. The resolution had passed as a mere form; and there was no expression of opinion with regard to it by any of the members present. If there was a majority in the House opposed to the resolution, he wished them to have an opportunity of recording their names against it; if, on the contrary, there was a majority in its favor, he wished that majority to be clearly shown. His motion, therefore, had had the effect of calling the attention of the House to the subject, as well as of bringing out the opinions of the members in regard to it. He was one of those opposed to the appointments of chaplains for that body. He thought that they had no right to appropriate the public money to any object; and that if they had religious services perfo:med in that House, it ought to be performed by men who did not claim a reward for it. He would venture to assert that there were men in this city who would be willing to act as chaplains for the House without money and without price; and, by accepting the services of such persons, they would have clergymen officiating there from a pure spirit of Christianity, and not for the sake of the salary, and who would seek the employment without being influenced by party.

Mr. C. said that, as the subject had been sufficiently discussed, he would withdraw his motion, unless some other gentleman wished to address the House on it.

Mr. CCOPER requested the gentleman from Alabama to suspend the withdrawal of his motion for a moment. He had but one word more to say in explanation of his views, as he perceived that many gentlemen, on different sides of the House, did not appreciate the motives by which he was governed. It was very far from him to attempt, by any act of his, either in his individual capacity, or as a Representative from the State of Georgia, to divorce this House from the God of Nature, or the God of Revelation. That same God whom you and I adore-that God whom I would have presented in all his living at ributes, and whom I would bave implored for the preservation of our liberties. and the durability of our insti u'ionsthat God whom our forefathers worshipped, is He, the object of our reverence. But my colleague would have it that I would drive the minis ers of the Gospel from this hall, and strike a blow a our holy religion; at that religion which I would have announced on this floor, and in this House, on all suitable occasions. Bnt, Mr. Speaker, I believe that there are difficulties in our way which I trust in God I may overrate, but which we ought not to overlook. I do not propose to divorce this House from the spirit of religion, nor yet from its forms; but my object is, that forms may not be

set up instead of the substance. It was the neglect of te substance of religion, and an abuse of its forms, which caused that infidelity, of which gentlemen had spoken, to spread over all France in the time of the Revolution; and it will become gentlemen to remember this lesson, and to beware lest they injure the cause of religion by adhering to its forms only. In addition to the allusion of his friend from Georgia, Mr. COOPER said he would ask gentlemen to put their hands on the authority by which they would take the money of their constituents and pay it over to a chaplain, when many, here represented, believed that it was not right to pay a man for dispensing the word of God. Tell me (said Mr. C.) where is your is your authority for apppropropriating the money of the people in this way; and when you do, (said Mr. C.) I will take my seat until the people of this country shall think better of it,and take the power away. Believing as he did that such power would be dangerous, he would be the first man to persuade the people to take it away, and thus sever all connection between Church and State. The very fact that gentlemen, in favor of the resolution, had alluded to, that the first Congress of the United States employed chaplains, taken in connection with the fact that they inserted a provision in the Constitution, by which no money can be taken from the Treasury, without authority of law, spoke volumes against this resolu

tion.

Mr. CRAIG observed that the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. COOPER] had taken the ground that they had no authority, under the Constitution, to take the people's money and pay it to a chaplain. I admit, said Mr. C. that we have no express authority' in the Constitution to pay a chaplain, as such; but if the gentlemen will tell me by what authority we can take the people's money, and pay it to our Clerk, Sergeant-at-arms, and Doorkeepers, I will show him as good authority for paying a chaplain. The Constitution gives to this House the power to appoint its Speaker and other officers. Now, in the authority here given, the Speaker is the only officer named, leaving to the House to say what other officers are necessary; and therefore the House can as well create the office of chaplain, as that of Clerk or Sergeant-at-Arms. If gentlemen would look back to the proceedings of the old Congress, they would find that the chaplain was then considered an officer of the body. So, also, our forefathers appointed chaplains as officers in their army and navy; thus showing that in their legislative, as well as military proceedings, they did nothing without asking a blessing from Him alone who can dispense blessings worth asking for. Mr. C. replied to the arguments of Mr. GARLAND, that, during Divine service in the morning, members were inattentive, engaged in reading newspapers and in writing letters, and that but few of them attended to the service. But (said he) do not gentlemen see that these arguments would go to close the doors of every church? If there was disorderly conduct, want of attention, and a disinclination for religious exercises on the part of members, their pious chaplain would tell them that this was the strongest reason why he should continue his exhortations. Mr. C. in conclusion, said he knew not whether any clergyman had ever sought and obtained the chaplaincy of the House from interested motives; but he could safely say that such was not the case with Mr. Reese, the late chaplain. After highly eulogizing Mr. Reese as a pious and sound divine, Mr. C. said that, so far from his having been contaminated by the office conferred on him, they found him at the close of the session the same mild, humble, and zealous Christian that he was at the commenc ement.

Mr. RICE GARLAND said that it was very easy, upon a question like this, to preach a sermon to rouse the feelings of the country; but he would remark, that upon the question of the usefulness of religion, or the divinity of the Christian religion, he would not yield to the gentleman from Georgia, or the gentleman from Virginia, [Messrs. COOPER and WISE.] This last question, however, did not enter into their consideration at all. If it did, much might be said of that religion, which attempted to establish an office thus provided for in the resolution. The condition

of revolutionary France, and the infidelity that overspread it, had been alluded to, but he would ask if there was not good reason to believe that that infidelity took its rise from the abuses under the forms of religion that prevailed long prior to that period. He, however, was not opposing religion, or even its forms, in opposing the adoption of the resolution. He did not object to commencing their daily proceedings with religious exercises, but he did object to a man coming there, seeking the office of chaplain on political grounds, and pleading to the religious sympathies of the country to sustain him. We have had (said Mr. G.) good men standing in that desk, and no doubt some bad ones; but he doub'ed if their services had ever resulted in producing any good effect. If we are a light, set on a hill, as the gentleman from Vermont says, to set an example to the country, we set a very bad example. Gentlemen stand here under the pretence of hearing prayers, and read newspapers, or take their seats and write letters while prayer is going on; and indeed it is seldom that more than thirty or forty members are ob. served in their seats. Was that the kind of example that is to be set, and that is to go forth to the country? In deciding upon the proposition before them, it was not for them to say, whether the Christian religion was useful or not, but whether the office of chaplain was necessary; and if he could show that hypocrisy had been made use of to put money in the pockets of political partisans, under the pretence of religion, he would show good cause for dispensing with the office. Mr. G. concluded by expressing the hope that the gentleman from Alabama would not withdraw his motion, but would give him an opportunity of recording his vote against the resolution.

Mr. HOPKINS here called for the previous question; and the House having seconded the call, the main question on reconsidering the vote adopting the joint resolution of the Senate, was put and decided in the nezative-yeas 12, nays 168.

Mr. CAVE JOHNSON moved that fifteen thousand copies of the President's Message, and five thousand copies of the accompanying documents, be printed for the use of the House.

Mr. STANLY then moved that the House do now adjourn; which motion was lost-ayes 63, nces 79.

Mr. C. JOHNSON then renewed his motion.

The SPEAKER suggested that there was a resolution to print the message and documents that had been laid on the table on Tuesday, and that a motion would be necessary to take up that resolution.

Mr. CAVE JOHNSON then moved to take it up, and called for the previous question; when

Mr. SHERROD WILLIAMS moved an adjournment; but the yeas and nays being called for on the motion,

Mr. WILLIAMS withdrew it.

The question on seconding the previous question was then put and carried, Messrs. CRABB and tion was then and 1, nees not counted.

The question was then taken "Shall the main question be now put?" and carried-yeas 109, nays

The SPEAKER said that the gentleman from Missouri was first entitled to the floor, and had submitted his resolution, and that no gentleman had a right to interrupt him in it; but the motion of the gentleman from South Carolina being a privileged motion, it had precedence over that of the gentleman from Missouri.

Mr. JAMESON referred to a decision given the other day by the SPEAKER, in the case of a privileged motion made by a gentleman from Alabama, [Mr. CHAPMAN,] with which the decision just made conflicted. He asked that he might have the benefit of the decision given the other day.

Mr. WADDY THOMPSON then moved an adjournment; and Messrs. MONTGOMERY and JAMES GARLAND being appointed tellers, the question was taken and decided in the affirmative-ayes 91, noes not counted; so

The House adjourned until Monday next.

IN SENATE,

MONDAY, December 29, 1839.

The CHAIR laid before the Senate a communication from the Secretary of the Senate in relation to the expenditure of the contingent fund; which was laid on the table and ordered to be printed.

Also, a report from the Secretary of State in compliance with a resolution of the Senate of December 19, 1838, directing him to report the nature and extent of the restrictions imposed upon the commerce of the United States by foreign nations; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.

Also, a report from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting a report of the Commissioner of the General Land Office, of the operations of that bureau for the year 1839; which was referred to the Committee on the Public Lands, and one thousand extra copies ordered to be printed.

Also, a report from the Secretary of War in relation to the expenditure of the contingent fund of that Department, and the bureaus thereto attached; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

Also, a report from the Secretary of the Navy, in relation to the expendi'ure of the contingent fund in that Department; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. WALKER presented a petition of a number of citizens of Mississippi, praying the establishment of a mail route from Greensborough, Alabama, to Jackson, Mississippi; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. KNIGHT presented the petition of Betsy Vial, widow of John Vial, praying for a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. LINN presented a memorial of the Legislature of Missouri, asking for an extension of the pre-emption laws.

Also, a memorial from the same body, request-" ing an appropriation of a grant of land to aid in the erection of an asylum for the deaf and dumb.

Also, a memorial from the same body, requesting the sale of certain unsold lands.

Also, a memorial of the same body, on the subject of patents; which were referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. LINN also presented a series of resolutions of the Legislature of Missouri, in favor of completing the national road to Jefferson city, Missouri; which was referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals.

Mr. L. also presented the petition of Wilson P. Hunt; which was referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims.

On motion of Mr. CALHOUN, the papers on file in the case of Mrs. Frances More were referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. HUBBARD presented the petition of Francis Martin; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Also, the petition of Charles G. Livermore; which was referred to the Committee on Manufactures.

Mr. DAVIS presented the petition of Josias Sturgis and officers and seamen of the revenue service, asking for the extension of the pension system to that branch of the service; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Also, the memorial of Aaron Vail; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. CRITTENDEN presented the memorial of a number of the citizens of Paducah, McCracken county, Ky. praying that Francis A. Harrison may be secured from loss occasioned by the destruction of the post office by fire; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. SOUTHARD presented the petition of Jacob Carver; which was referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims.

Also, the memorial of R gnell Coats; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Also, the petition of G. F. L. Weed, widow of Major Weed of the Marine Corps; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. BUCHANAN presented the memorial of a number of citizens of Pennsylvania, praying for a reduction of the rates of postage; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. MOUTON presented the memorial of the heirs of Thomas Powers; which was referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims.

Mr. ROANE presented the petition of Richard Harris; which was referred to the Committee on Claims.

Also, the memorial of the Franklin Fire Company of Alexandria; which was referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia.

Also, the memorial of George Taylor; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

On motion by Mr. R. the papers on file in relation to the claim of John Ramsey, were referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.

Mr. PIERCE presented the petition of Thomas D. Morrison; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. ALLEN presented the petition of John Paul; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

On motion by Mr. KING, the papers relating to the claim of Samuel H. Thompson, was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. K. gave notice that to-morrow he would ask leave to bring in a bill for the relief of John K. Jacocks.

Mr. SOUTHARD gave notice that on to-morrow he would ask leave to bring in a bill regulating the pay of masters in the navy.

On motion by Mr. ALLEN, the papers in relation to the claim of David Taylor, were referred to the Committee on Claims.

On motion by Mr. KING, the papers in relation to the claim of A. G. King and Heury Lucas were withdrawn from the files of the Senate.

Mr. MERRICK gave notice that on to-morrow he would ask leave to introduce a bill for the relief of James J. Mackall.

Mr. CLAY of Alabama, agreeable to notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce the following bills:

A bill for the benefit of the Selma and Tennessee Railroad Company;

A bill for the benefit of the Gainesville and Narkeeta Railroad Company; and

A bill for the relief of the Alabama, Florida, and Georgia Railroad Company;

Which were severally read twice, and referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals.

Also, a bill for the discontinuance of the office of Surveyor General in the several districts, so soon as the surveys therein can be completed, for abolishing land offices under certain circumstances, and to abolish the office of Solicitor of the General Land Office; and

A bill to relinquish a certain reversionary interest of the United States to a tract of land in the State of Alabama;

Which were severally read twice, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Also, a bill granting the right of way through the public lands to the States or incorporated companies engaged in the construction of roads and canals; which was read twice, and referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals.

Also, a bill for the relief of the assignees of Louis Baron de Ferrier; which was read twice, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. LINN, in pursuance of notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill for the relief of Gen. Mathew Arbuckle; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims.

Mr. PRENTISS, in pursuance of notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce the following bills: A bill to revive and continue in force an act granting relief to those disabled by known wounds in the Revolutionary war; and

A bill for the relief of John McCloud; Which were severally read twice, and referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. SEVIER, in pursuance of notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill making appro priations for the removal of the raft in Red river; which was read twice, and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. BUCHANAN, in pursuance of notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill for the relief of Samuel R. Slaymaker; which was read twice, and referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. WILLIAMS, in pursuance of notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill to repeal certain acts in relation to navy pensions, and making further provision in relation thereto;

Also, a bill to regulate the pay of masters in the

navy;

Which were read twice, and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. NORVELL, in pursuance of notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce the following bill: A bill for the relief of J. and W. Becson and others; which was read twice, and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. N. also, on leave, introduced the following bills:

A bill granting to the county of Kalamazoo, in the State of Michigan, the right of pre-emption to a quarter section of land, and for other purposes; A bill to amend an act confirming cer ain land claims in the State of Michigan; and

A bill granting to certain persons therein named the right of pre emption to a fraction of a section of land in Ottoway, in the Sta e of Michigan. Which were severally read twice, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. STRANGE, agreeably to notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill for the relief of Wiliam McKeever; which was read twice, and referred to the Commitee on Pensions.

Mr. SPENCE, on leave, and in pursuance of previous notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill for the relief of Irvine Shubrick; which was read twice, and referred to the Committee on Naval Aaffairs.

Mr. HUBBARD, in pursuance of previous no tice, asked and obtained have to introduce the following bills:

A bill for the relief of Philip Wiedman;

A bill for the relief the legal representatives of of John J. Bulow, jr.;

A bill for the relief of Ma'achi Hagen;

A bill for the relief of Joseph Hernandez; and A bill for the relief of individuals who have sustained damage by Indian wars since 1830; Which were severally read twice, and referred to the Committee on Claims.

Mr. TAPPAN, agreeably to notice, introduced the following joint resolution:

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, (two-thirds of both Houses concurring therein,) That the following article be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States; which, when ratified by the Legislatures of threefourths of the said States, shall be valid as a part of the said Constitution, to wit:

The judges of the Supreme and inferior courts shall hold their offices for the term of seven years, if so long they shall behave themselves well. And the commiss ons of all judges of said courts who may be in office at the time of the adoption of this amendment shall expire as follows: those who shall have been in office twenty years shall expire in one year; those who have been in office ten years shall expire in three years; and the com.

missions of all who have not been in office ten years shall expire in seven years.

The resolution was read twice, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. DAVIS, from the Committe on Commerce, to which was referred the bill to remit such duties, and to cancel such bonds, as have been required of persons engaged in the whale fishery, to restrain all fu ure exactions of duties of such vessels and their cargoes, reported the same without amendment.

Mr. NORVELL, from the Commitee on Commerce, to which had been referred a joint resolution authorizing the President to cause certain surveys to be made, reported the same without amendment, and recommended its passage.

Mr. WRIGHT, from the Committee on Finance, to which had been referred a bill for the relief of William H. Robertson, Samuel H. Garrow, and J. W. Simonton; and

A bill for the relief of William A. Whitehead, late collector of the customs at the port of Key West;

Reported the same without amendment, and recommended their passage.

Mr. MERRICK submit'ed the following resolution, which was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be communicated to the Senate a statement, showing, in a condensed form, the amount drawn from the Treasury in each year of the five years immediately preceding the com. mencement of the present session of Congress, in consequence of special legislation by Congress upon private claims.

The following resolution, submitted same days since by Mr. BENTON, was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to communicate to the Senate copies of the records, and of all the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry, and also of the Court Martial lately held at St. Louis, on Lieutenaut Colonel Brant; also, the copy of his resignation; and, also, of all the papers connected therewith.

The following resolution, submitted some days since, was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to report to the Senate as follows:

1. The articles of foreign import, which, being manufactured into a different article in the United States, are allowed a drawback of duty on being exported; with the quantities and values of such imports and exports, and the amounts of duties received, and draw back paid on the same, from the year 1833, inclusive, to the end of the fiscal year of

1839.

2. The amount of drawback which would have been payable on such exportations, if the act of March 3, 1839, for the reduction of duties, commonly called the Compromise act, had provided for a reduction of drawback in proportion to the periodical reduction of duty.

3. The probable quantities and values of such imports and exports, and the amounts of duties receivable, and of drawbacks payable thereon, fron the year 1840, inclusive of that year, to the consummation of the Compromise act, in 1842, and for one year thereafter; provided the said act remains as it is.

4. The same quantities, values, and duties for the same time, with the annual amounts of drawback, which would be payable if the drawback underwent reductions proportionately with the reductions of duty.

5. A table of recapitulation and comparison, showing the annual difference, and the aggregate difference between the amounts of drawback paid and payable under said act, from 1833 inclusive to 1842, and one year thereafter, if the act remains as it is, and the amounts that would have been paid and should become payable hereafter, if the drawbacks had been subject to reduction in proportion to the reduction of duties from the date of the act. The following resolution, submitted some days since by Mr. BENTON, was considered and agreed

to:

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to communicate to the Senate, so far as it may be in the power of the Treasury Depart

ment to obtain the information, the names of all the banks in the United States which may have stopped specie payments during the suspension of 1839; also of those which did not stop; noting those which may have recommenced payments; the whole divided into classes by States and Territories, and the District of Columbia.

Also, that he cause to be communicated to the Senate the names of all banks, if any, which have refused to pay the Government demands, Post Office inclusive, in specie, when demanded; with all the circumstances of such failure, and the correspondence to which it led.

Also, to inform the Senate whether any of the Departments have information, or have reason to believe, that any of the Government creditors have been paid in depreciated currency, since the general resumption of 1838.

The following resolution, submitted by Mr. BENTON Some days since, was taken up for consideration:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to communicate to the Senate all the information which may be in his power or possession relative to the imposition of tolls and the annual amounts collected, on all sorts of vessels, empty, light, or heavily laden, on the Louisville and Portland canal, from the opening of the same to the present time; and the general expenses attending the Canal. Also, the annual amount of dividends belonging to the United States. Also, the number of shares held in said canal stock by the United States, and the amount paid upon them. Also, the number of vessels of all kinds which have passed the said canal annually since it was opened. Also, whether the said canal is completely finished and put into a condition to pass vessels through in the shortest time practicable.

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to address proper queries to the surveyor of the port at Louisville, and also at St. Louis, to be answered by themselves, and also to be communicated to the steamboat captains generally, in relation to the effect of the tolls on the said canal, and the amount thereof on their respective vessels for each time they pass through, and the aggregate amount for the season, or a year; and the comparative amount of the tolls paid to the canal, and the profits cleared by the boat; with an estimate of the amount of tolls which a regular trader of a given tonnage, between St. Louis and Louisville, and between New Orleans and Louisville, would pay in the number of years that such steamer would last, supposing her to continue in the same trade as long as fit for service; also, a comparative estimate of such aggregate tolls, with the original cost of the ve sel; and a further comparative estimate of such tolls, with the other expenses incident to the runn ng of the steamboat.

Mr. SMITH of Indiana proposed the following amendment:

"And also the capacity of said canal at this time to admit, without delay, the commerce of the river that must necessarily pass through the same; and whether one canal at that point, of any given capacity, containing the necessary locks to overcome the falls, would be sufficient to pass without delay the commerce ascending and descending the river, for future years; and also whether, in order to afford full and entire facilities in overcoming the falls of the Ohio, so as to pass the commerce of the river, a canal on the Indiana side of the falls, of sufficient capacity to pass boat; of the largest class, in addition to the canal on the Kentucky side, is not, or will not in a few years become, in 'ispensably necessary, taking into consideration the probable increase of the commerce; and that the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to report to the Senate the result of his inquiries, at the earlest day practicable."

Which being accepted by Mr. BENTON, after some remarks from Messrs. CRITTENDEN, SMITH, and BENTON, the resolution, as amended, was adop ed.

The following resolution, submitted some days since by Mr. BENTON, was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to report to the Senate as follows:

1. A table of the import and export of gold bullion, with the excess of each, annually, from the commencement of the Federal Government, or as far back as the returns in the Treasury Department will enable the table to be made up. 2. A like table of gold coin. 3. A like table of silver bullion. 4. A like table of silver coin.

5. A table of recapitulation, showing the total annual imports and exports of coin and bullion in one column,and the excesses in two other columns, for the same length of time.

6. A detailed statement of the weekly exportations of coin and bullion for the year 1839, showing the names and residences of the exporters, and their consignees in foreign countries

7. A detailed table of exports and imports of coin and bullion of the United States for the year 1839.

8. A table of the annual coinage of gold and silver at the Mint of the United States and the Branch Mints, from the time they were respectively established.

9. A table of the annual product of the gold mines of the United States from the time of their discovery.

The whole of said tables made up to the end of the year 1839.

The following resolution, submitted some days since by Mr. BENTON, was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be communicated to the Senate all the information which the War Office contains, or can conveniently procure, of the massacres of individuals, of families, of small parties, and of shipwrecked crews or passengers, which have taken place in Florida during the present hostilities, and including those which took place before the war became open on the part of the Indians; noting, so far as it can be conveniently done, how far families have been broken up, and driven from their homes, their houses burnt, and their fields and property destroyed.

The following resolution, submitted some days since by Mr. BENTON, was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to send to the Senate all the information in his possession relating to the southern boundary line of the Territory of Iowa.

The following resolution, submit'ed some days since by Mr. BENTON, was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to communicate to the Senate such information as has been received at the Treasury De. partmeni from consuls and secretaries of legation respecting the fiscal regulations in force in foreign countries, and not contained in his communication to the Senate of the da'e of January 21, 1839.

The following resolution submitted some days since by Mr. LINN, was considered and agreed to: Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be communicated to the Senate any information in the Department of State, or any other Department, relative to the dis. puted boundary between the State of Missouri and the Territory of Iowa, and which has not been heretofore communicated to the House of Representatives; and also to communicate copies of any proclamations of the Governor of Missouri and the Governor of the Territory of Iowa in relation to said disputed boundary, and the orders, if any, for calling out, or holding the militia in readiness to act in relation to the same; and also any further information on the subject which it may be in the power of the Departments to give.

The following resolution, submitted some days since by Mr. LINN, was taken up for conside

ritory, its bays, rivers, harbors, &c to both parties indiscriminately, shall cease in twelve months after such notification.

Resolved, That it is both expedient and proper to extend such portions of the laws of the United States over the Territory of Oregon, as may be necessary to secure the lives, liherty, and property of our citizens who may reside in said Territory.

Resolved, That it is expedient to raise an additional regiment of infantry, (rifles,) for the purpose of overawing and keeping in check various Indian tribes, or any foreign forces, who may be in said Territory, or on its borders; and at the same time to give ample protection to our citizens engaged in legitimate occupations.

Resolved, That six hundred and forty acres of land should be granted to every white male inhabitant of said Territory of the age of eighteen years, who shall cultivate and use the same five consecutive years, and to his heirs at law in the event of his death.

On motion of Mr. LINN, the resolutions were referred to a select committee of five, and ordered to be printed.

The following resolution, submitted some days since by Mr. WILLIAMS, was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of increasing the number of copies of the laws of Congress printed for the several States and Territories under the act of 20th April, 1818.

The following resolution, submitted some days since by Mr. LUMPKIN, was considered and agreed to.

Resolved, That the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a mail stage route from Clarksville, Habersham county, Ga. to Asheville, N. C. via the town of Clayton, in Rabun county, Ga. and the town of Franklin, in Macon county, N. C. And also a weekly mail route, to be carried on horseback, from the town of Lafayette, in Walker county, to the town of Salem, Dade county, in the State of Georgia.

The following resolution, submitted some days since by Mr. CLAY of Alabama, was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on Claims be instructed to inquire into the expediency of making compensation to Abel Pennington, of Captain A. Byram's company of North Alabama volunteers, serving in Florida, for a horse, shot by order of the commanding officer in January, 1838.

The following re olution, submitted some days since by Mr. PIERCE, was taken up for consideration:

Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to report, as soon as may be convenient, a bill for the equalization of the pay of the officers of the line and the staff of the army.

Mr. P. said he was in expectation of shortly receiving some information from the Department in relation to this subject, and asked that it be pas ed over for the present; which was agreed to.

The following resolution, submitted some days since by Mr. SMITH of Indiana, was taken up for consideration and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on Roads and Canals be instructed to inquire into the expediency of making an appropriation to continue the construction of the Cumberland road in the States of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, the ensuing year; and that said committee also inquire into the expediency of appropriating a sum of money sufficient to complete said road to Jefferson city, Missouri, to be paid over to the several States, within whose limits the road is to be constructed, in annual instalments, as the same may be required to insure an economical, energetic, and speedy completion of the work: Provided, The States will agree to accept the appropriation, and apply it to the object i.tended, and discharge the General Government from any further appropriations: And provided, also, That the States have authority to lay and collect toll on said road, sufficient to keep it in repair after its construction; and shall allow the arms and munitions of war of the General Government to pass on the same toll free.

The following resolution, offered by Mr. BENTON on Friday last, was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause the proper inquiries to be made of all disbursing officers and agents, and all contractors, (the Post Office Department inclusive,) to ascertain from them whether they have sold or exchanged Government drafts or other Government funds, or their own drafts on the Government, during the years 1838 and 1839, for paper money of the following descriptions:

1. Bank notes of the late Bank of the United States, and especially notes of a less denomination than twenty dollars.

2. Bank notes of the present Bank of the United States, and especially notes of a less denomination than twenty dollars.

3. Post notes of the present Bank of the United States, and especially any of such notes of a less denomination than one hundred dollars; also, of a Jess denomination than twenty dollars, and which had been made payable at more than sixty days after date, or which were not due, or which had been altered by the pen; and if so, that they report the times and places of such sales or exchanges, and with whom made, and the amounts so sold or exchanged.

Also, that the President communicate to the Senate the name of any disbursing officer, agent, or contractor, who shall fail to answer the foregoing inquiries in a reasonable time. Also, that he communicate a list of such Treasury or Post Office drafts in favor of disbursing officers, agents, and contractors, for the years 1838 and 1839, as shall appear to have been sold, with the names of the endorsers, and to whom paid; that the Secretary of the Treasury cause inquiries to be made of the deposite banks, since the general resumption of specie payments in 1838, whether the Government drafts which have been sold by disbursing officers, agents, and contractors, have been usually paid in specie; and if so, all the particulars as to the several sums and total amounts paid, and to whom paid, and where, as nearly as can be stated.

On submitting the above resolution, Mr. BENTON said that it implied so much, and such grave censure, that he felt bimself bound to show that he was not proceeding gratuitously, and without information, but that he was in possession of facts which justified the movement. He said that he had received information of every kind which the resolutions supposed to exist, and even that immense sums had been drawn in specie from the deposite banks by the Bank of the United States, since she stopped payment. He mentioned one instance of this kind, in which the Bank of Missouri paid ninety thousand dollars in specie to a Bank of the United States agent for a Treasury draft, which issued the day before the Bank of the United States stopped payment, and was sold to her agent for her notes, which notes were disbursed on account of the United States, while the specie drawn from the Missouri Bank was shipped to Philadelphia, and probably thence to Europe. Mr. B. then read the following letter, as a specimen of the information he possessed:

Memorandum of matters relating to the circulation of United States Bank notes, which came under my own observation, while acting as disbursing agent of the Government in the Cherokee country.

Sometime in the spring of the year 1838, two gentlemen arrived at the Cherokee Agency, (one of whose names, I think, was Roberts, the other's not remembered,) to whom I was introduced. They were said to be agents of the United States Bank, whose business appeared to be to exchange the notes of that Bank for Treasury drafts, or drafts from the paymasters and disbursing agents on the Government. They did make exchanges to a considerable extent, but to what amount I cannot say. They had, I understood, in their possession, a large amount of the notes of the Bank, and that they, after leaving the agency, went to Little Rock, Arkansas, on business of a similar character. One of the contractors (now in Washington) for furnishing subsistence to the emigrant Indians west, yesterday told me that an agent of the United States Bank had been at Little Rock,

and that he, together with his partners, negotiated a loan with him for $150,000, payable in six months, which, he added, would soon be due.*

In the summer of the same year, I was called upon by Maj. Cas. J. Nourse, of this city, to know if I had any Treasury drafts that I wished cashed, stating that he had old notes of the Bank of the United States that he would give me in exchange. I replied, that I had some drafts on New York and other places, which, if he would give me notes of the United States Bank of Pennsylvania, I would enter into the arrangement, but that otherwise I would not, as I conceived the issue of these notes wrong, and contrary to law, and would not make myself an accessory to the wrong by c rculating them. He observed that the other agents had made no objection to receiving them, and strongly urged my taking them likewise. Find ng that I was not to be persuaded, we finally made an exchange, he giving me the notes of the Pennsylvania Bank. The old notes were generally of small denominations-tens, twenties; the new notes were mostly of like sums, with some fifties and hundreds. The twenties and hundreds of the new issue appeared to have been struck off for po t notes, made payable to order, with the word "order" erased, and "John Ross or bearer" inserted. To all appearances, Mr. Nourse had a large amount with him; I think he said, of both kinds, something like a half a milllon of dollars. He also sad he thought he should go to Arkansas, to endeavor to make exchanges there.

Washington, Aug. 20, 1839.

The following resolution, submitted some days since by Mr. BENTON, was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to obtain from the constituted authorities in Floride, a statement of all the Territorial bonds issued, and authorized to be iss.d, in that Territory, with copies from the journals of the Council, showing any thing that was done in authorizing the issue of csuh bonds, with the names of the members of the Council at that time, their votes in each case, the names of the Governors who may have approved laws for the issuing of Territorial bonds, or who may have signed or endorsed the said bonds; also, the purposes for which said bonds were issued, and when issued in favor of corporations, the names of the corporations, and the corporators and their officers, and the use made of said bonds, and the present value of said bonds in the American and European markets, with the condition of the corporations which have had the use of said bonds, and how far they are fulfilling the purposes for which they were created. Also, a statement of all the acts of incorporation which have been passed by the said Legislative Council of Florida, since the 3d of March, 1823, and the acts in amendment thereof, and when and how said acts were reported to the President of the United States, to be laid before Congress.

The following resolution, submitted some days since by Mr. BENTON, was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to communicate to the Senate all the information which it is in the power of the Department to obtain as to the value of the different State bonds in the London market. Also, the value of the different railroad and canal stocks of the respectives States in the home market.

The following resolution, submitted some days since by Mr. TAPPAN, was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That a committee of three members be appointed, who, together with a like number to be appointed by the House of Representatives, shall direct the expenditures of all moneys appropriated to purchase books for the Library of Congress.

The Senate then went into the consideration of Executive business; and afterwards Adjourned.

* These contractors were Glasgow and Harris, of Missouri.

Committee on Commerce.-Messrs. Cartis, Hillen, White of Louisiana, Burke, Toland, Habersham, Parris, Bolts, and Weller.

Committee on the Public Lands.-Messrs. Cor. win, Reynolds, Lincoln, Crary, White of Kentucky, Fisher, Garland of Virginia, Hubbard, and Thompson of Mississippi.

Committee of Claims.- Messrs. Dawson, Russell, Banks, Giddings, Williams of New Hampsh re, Gentry, Hill of North Carolina, Galbraith, and Mallory.

Post Office and Post Roads.-Messrs. McKay, Hopkins,Chapman, of Ala., Marvin, Leadbetier, J. L. Williams of Tennessee, Anderson of Kentucky, But er of South Carolina, and Brown of Mississippi.

District of Columbia.-Messrs. Johnson of Ma-ryland, C. H. Williams of Tennessee, Beirne, Clarke, Davee, Graham, Cranston, Black, and Hawkins.

Judiciary.-Messrs. Sergeant, Crary, Hoffman, Turney, Mason of Ohio, Samuels, Colquitt, Storrs, and Barnard.

Revolutionary Claims.-Messrs. Craig, Randolph, Hall, Taliaferro, Parmenter, Montgomery, Rogers of South Carolina, Ely, and Swearingen.

Territories.-Messrs. Pope, Jenifer, Ramsey, Campbell of Tennessee, Stewart, Brewster, Davis of Kentucky, Montanya, and Fine.

Revolutionary Pensions.-Messrs. Taliaferro, Carr, Andrews, Steenrod, Rayner, E. Davis of Pennsylvania, Brockway, Taylor, and Hand.

Invalid Pensions.-Messrs. S. Williams, Morris of Ohio, Chittenden, Doar, Strong, Randall, Morris of Pa. Palen, and Edwards.

Roads and Canals -Messrs. Ogle, Graves, Carroll, Hill of Va. Smith of Ia. Starkweather, Rayner, Colquitt, and Blackwell.

Patents.-Messrs. Fielcher of Vt. Beatty, Prentiss, Newhard, and Paynter.

Public Buildings and Grounds.-Messrs. Lincoln, Petrikin, Leonard, Keim, and Hastings of Ohio. Revisal and Unfinished Business.-Messrs. Peck, Parish, Jackson, James, and Dana.

Accounts.-Messrs. Johnson of Va. Lawrence, Johnston of N. Y. Marchand, and Floyd.

Manufactures-Messrs. John Q Adams, Nisbet, Slade, Tillinghast, Worthington, Dromgoole, Mitchell, Eastman, and John Davis of Pennsylvania.

Agriculture-Messis Deberry, Dennis, McClellan of Tennessee, Smith of Vermont, Hammond, Shaw, Sweany, Doig, and Hook.

Indian Affairs.-Messrs. Bell, L. Williams of North Carolina, Alford, Cross, Chinn, Shepard, Lucas, Hunt, and John W. Davis of Indiana.

Mileage.-Messrs. Williams of Connecticut, Williams of Massachusetts, Morgan, Leet, and Allen of New York.

Expenditures in the Department of State.-Messrs. Underwood, Bynum, Crabb, Lowell, and Trum

bull.

Expenditures in the Department of War.-Messrs. R. Garland of Louisiana, Howard, Wagener, Holmes, and Cooper of Pennsylvania.

Expenditures in the Department of the Navy.Messrs. Saltonstall, Vanderpoel, Simonton, Greene, and Gerry.

Expenditures in the Department of the Post Office.Messrs. Marvin, Boyd, Lowell, Davis of Kentucky, and Brown of New York.

Expenditures on the Public Buildings.-Messrs. Stanly, Fornance, Gates, Henry, and Earle.

Foreign Affairs.-Messrs. Pickens, Cushing, Droomgoole, Granger, Bynum, Hawes, Howar', Everet, and Clifford.

Naval Affairs.-Mes rs. F. Thomas, Holmes, Reed, King, Grinnell, Anderson of Me. Robinson, Holleman, and Profit.

Private Land Claims-Messrs. Casey, Garland of Louisiana, Calhoun, D.llett, Wick, Butler of Ky. Hastings of Mass., Jameson, and White of La.

Military Affairs.-Messrs. Cave Johnson, Thomp