Virginia Argus. [volume], January 06, 1816, Image 2

About Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816

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^f*he least profit a' lowedTiy lawshouldheq^reat I!
enough to create the hope of private advantage I
to those, whose enterprise can have no other |
object; and that jwnwnrmi,which thccammnni-(
ty have so ir.ucli interest in rcduc'-ng, may be
salcly fi.xeJ at a lower amount, as the magnitude
and conditions oi* public supsenpt on afibrd to
private adveuturars, an indemnity against any ul
timate loss.
Tlie principles laid down mjtho precedingpart
of this Report, the committee have embodied in
•tlie Resolutions which are subjoined to it, but
they would not have p. r(bnntd their duty to the
house, if, before they recommended ths applica
tion to objects of intt-rnul improvement, of" all
the public stock of the common wealth, as well
as ol" tl>e premiums Mhicli may Ihs hereafter re
ceived for the incorporation of new, the extensi
on of the capitals, or tlie duration of" charters of;
existing Dunks ; they hud not enquired into thei
actual state of the debts, and oT the annual reve
nue and expenditure of the commonwealth.
That enquiry bus resolved itself" into tlie esta
blishment of the following propositions !
1st. That for fifteen years, prior to the com
mencement of the late war, the ordinary revenue
of the commonwealth had not only been adequate
to meet the ordinary expenditure charged upon
it, but to enable the Commonwealth to arm from
time to time, a large part ot her militia—to lay
tlie foundation of her Literyry Fund, to erect sev
eralverycostlvpubiiceditic.es, and to complete
the purchase of the stock subscribed by the Com
monwealth to the Rrnik of Virginia; objects
which occasioned a disbursement from the ordi
nary revenue of a sum, exceeding one million of
dollars.
2dly. That since the commencement of that
■*‘sr, the revenue of the commonwealth, more
than doubled, by additional taxes, and farther
augmented by considerable loans from the banks,
has not only sufficed for the ordinary peace ex
penditure, but enabled the Legislature to assume
the state quota of tlie direct tax of 1814, anil to
apply to tlie defence of the United States, a sum
exceeding eighteen hundred thousand dollars
exclusive of the interest paid upon those loans
3d!y. That tlie commonwealth has at present
a claim upon the United States of unquestioua
hle justice, for more than seventeen hundred
thousand dollars of the above amount, together
"'in me interest cn sucn portions or it, at least
as \\ ere obtained on loan, which claun, when sa
tisfied, will furnish a sum competent discharge
all the debts of the commonwealth, to provide
for the expenditure of the current fiscal year;—
and to leave at the end ofthat year balance ir
the treasury of three hundred and fifty Uiousanci
dollars to be applied to any other cbject of inter
nal interest.
4thly. That the present tax may be reducctl
to the amount levied before the late war, provid
cd the United States shall reimburse the sum:
advanced for the defence of the Commonwealth
and, even, should the payment of these sums b<
with-held, wh.cli a just confidence in the good
faith of the General Government forb.ds youi
committee to expert, 1 repeal may yet be effect.
ed‘ of such ))ortion of the war taxes , as are not
absolutely pledged for the payment of the inter,
est, and the redemption of the principal of the
public debt.
From all which it evidently appearsthat the
fund which it is proposed to apply to the purpo
vis of internal improvement, may he spared from
tberevenueofthe Common wealth, without anv
embarrassment ofher finances, any violation cii
her engagements, or pressure upon her citizens.
Should the appropriation recommended by the
committee receive the sanction of the legisla
ture, the fund forinternalimprovement, will con
sist of the following stock—
5547 shares of the Stock of the Bank of Virgi
nia, on which a dividend is now received, and
winch computed at par is worth 554,700 00
3400 Shares of the Stock of the
Bank of Virginia, whereupon
no dividend will accrue until
alter the 1st day of May, 1818, 240,000 00
3334 Slimes of the Stock of the
Farmer's Bank of Virginia, 333,400 00
250 Shares of the Stock of the
James RiverCoispany, also ea
iimateu at par, 50,000 00
125 Shares of the Stock of the
Appomattox Company, 12,500 00
70 Shares of the Stock of the
Dismal Swamp Canal Company 17,500 00
70 Shares of the Stock of the Po
tomac Company, 31,111 111-9
100 Shares of the Stock of the
Little River Turnpike Com
ply* 12,000 00
Making a total value of 1,949,211 11 1-9
Of which the sum of 938.100 dollars is now
productive of an annual revenue exceeding nine
ty eight thousand dollars ; and two hundred and
forty thousand dollars will become alike produc
tive after tbe first day of May, 18’8.
In the present state of the fund, the progress of
the public works to which it may be expected to
give rise, will he until the first day of May, 1818,
at the rate of 245,000 dollars per annum. After
that period, it will be further augmented by the
addition of sixty thousand dollars. So that the
total value of he Internal Improvements often
jears will be g 2,777,500; and this calculation
is grounded on a suppo»,tion, that (lie portion of
the stock which is now unproductive, will con
tinue to be so; and that no augmentation of the
fund will have been made by the creation of new
bunks.
nut your committee confidently anticipate a 1
considerable increase of the fund from the prenii
urn to ftrure charters, without impairing the pro.
ductivencas of the stock of the existing banks.
A very large portion of the paper medium of
■Virginia is, at present, derived Irom the Hanks
of the District of Columbia, and of the adjacent
•tatcs. A banking capital might be created
which would supply that medium, and yielding
to the state a premium in atock, of 600,000 do|.
lars, would arid to the revenue of the fund for
Internal Improvement, at least fifty thousand dol
lars, to the annual disbursements for internal
improvements £ 125,000, and to the total value
of the works accomplished in the period of ten
yearn, £1.125,000. Nor do your committee coil
eider the expectation too sanguine, provided this '
fund receive the application which is here pro-1
posed, that the pres, nt banking capital of the :
Commonwealth may be doubled in a period often '
year*, and, consequently, the revenue arising
from that port ion of the fund.
If the latter Calculation be admitted to be cor
rect, a continued application of this fund for a
second period of ten years, will defray the cost
of public work*, of the value of g 10,4 52, 500 ex
clusive of any allowance, whatever, tor the divi
dends upon the share* acquired by the Common
wealth in the stock of any public w*ork which
may be hereafter commenced, and of any csti
mate of the value of such works, as shall owe
their existence to the sale and re-investment of
eny part of the public stock
Finally, your committee beg leave to subjoin
that, of the wlwle fund thus usefully applied? a
very inconsiderable part, if any, will have been
derived from the pockets of the people, by the
imposition of taxes. If an allowance be made
for the dividends on the sate sh.-res of the stock
of the Hank of V irgima, down to the period at
which the last instalment of the sum subscribed
by the Commonwealth for tliat stock, was paid
to the Hank, this amount will be found not to
exceed the subsequent dividends on Ui« state
•hares m the stock of both Hanks.
The General Assembly ha* an absolute and un
ueeUonable right to make any ether deposition
if this fund, which, to its u
>ei«t; but your committee mv ti.tr
institutiifb of the Farmer’s Hunk -if Vuviiua, and/
tl»«r unexampled premiums for Lank it in Cuj> 1
llommunweahh, are ascribable to the »•. im’- tent •
expectation of the 1 *gn>latitrc and the people,
that the profits of thi* novel though productive
systent of finance, were ui he turned into the
channel of pnhlic improvement. Hv giving to
t!wse premiums this direction, the stock oi' the
nation will be retribulcd for the reduction which
they occasion of its amount, and the constraint
which they put on its activity.
He it therefore Uetolved, Tlint a fund be ere*,
ted by law, to be denominated “The Fund Fori
Internal Improvement,” ami to he exclusively ap
plied to the purposes of rendering navigable the
principal rivers; oi more intimately connecting,
bv public highways, the Eastern ami Western
waterns ami ^the market towns of the Common
wealth.
2- I hat this fund shall consist of the shares
now held bv the Commonwealth in the stock
jot the Little Itivcr Turnpike Company, of the
Dismal Swamp, Appomattox, Potomac and James
Hirer Canal Companies; of the Batik of Virginia
ami Farmer’s Hank of Virginia, together with
such dividends as may, from time to time, ac
crue on such shares of stock, and such bonus or
premiums as may be hereafter received for the
incorporation of new, the augmentation of the cu
pitals, or the extension of the charters of the ex
isting Banks.
3. That for the purpose of preserving and im
proving this fund, and of disbursing such por
tions of it as the General Assembly may here if er
direct to be applied to any object of internal im
provement, it shall be vested in a eor|mrate bo
dy, to be styled—The President and lloaixl of
Public Works.
4. I hat the Governor of the Commonwealth
shall beex olfic'o, President of the llomd of Pub
lic Works; that the Hoard, a majority ut the
members of which, shall be competent to trans
act ary business devolving on the Corporation,
"ball consist of the Treasurer ami the'Attorney
General fW the time being, anil of
Citizens of the Commonwealth ; whereof
shall reside Westward of the Allegany Mountain,
between the Ulue ilalge and Alle
gany, and the residue between the Hluc Uidcre
aim uie sea coast.
а. The ineml>ers of the board shall be chosen
annually by joint ballot ot the two houses of the
Gener.il assembly, and receive such compcnsati
on for their services as may be allowed by law.
б. That in the absence of the Governor the
board may elect a President pro tempore, from
their own body
7. The President and Hoard of Public Works,
sli.ill have power to appoint a principal engineer
or Surveyor ot Public Works, a secretary and
Teeasurcr, together with such other officers and
assistants as they shall find necessary, each of
whom shall receive for his services, such com
pensation as the President and Hoard of Public
Works may allow, to be paid out of the Revenue
ot the fund of Internal Improvement, and to be
reimbursed th# fund by an allowance of the Com
monwealth of so much of the stock of any Canal
or i'urnpike company, as shall constitute a rea.
tunable compensation for the services rendered
such company, by the Surveyor and his assis
tants.
8. That the President and Hoard of Pubi c
Works shall be authorised to subscribe in benaif
of the Commonwealth, to such public works as
the General Assembly may, from tune to time,
agree to patronize, such portions of the revenue
ot the fund for Iii’ernal Improvement as may be
directed by law ; but that no part of the fund
shall u* subscribed towards the stock of any C..
nal or turnpike company, until three fifius .t
least of the whole stock necessary to complete
such Canal or turnpike, shall have been o’herwisc
subscribed, nor until of the stock so subscribed,
one fiftn part shall have been paid in by the res
pective subscribers, or the payment thereof ef
fectually secured.
9. That the dividends upon the stock which
may be subscribed by the President and Hoard
of Public Works, shall go exclusively to otlter
subscriber* than the said President and Bu nd
until such portion of the stock of those subscri
bers, shall have nett to them six per centum per
annum, from the spec.tied lime of such payment.
That an increase of profit, after that ne t income
has been assured to these subscriber.';, shall be
long exclus.vely t«, 4ue fund for internal improve
ment, until the nett annual income of the whole
stock actually expended by any company shall
reach six per centum per annum, after which the
President and hoard ot public works, and the
other subscribers to the sleek of thj company
shall divide the nett profits on such stuck, in pro
portion to their respective interests.
10. That whenever tiie nett income of any com
pany shall be found for two succeeding years, or
upon an avarage of five succeeding y*.rs, to sur
pass fifteen per cent per annum, the Gen val As
setnbly may reduce the tolls from which such
income is derived, so as to limit die nett reve
nue of the company to that amount. Provided
that should the tolls for any two succeedin g
years fail to yield a nett income to the company
ol ten per cent per annum, the President and
board ot public works on satisfactory evidence
being adduced thereof, may authorise the tolls to
be augmented so as to secure to the company
■ucli nett income ; ~lnd Provided olto, that after
the lapse of sixty years, the maximum Profit of
the Company may oe reduced to twelve per cent
and alter the lapscof one hundred years, to ten
per cent, per annum.
11. riiattlic President a:ul Iloard of Public
works, shall hav3 power to vest in any productive
fund, the unappropriated dividends accruing up
on any of the) stock commuted to their charge,
until the same shall be specially applied bylaw
1.0 some object of internal improvement ; tha*
they may from time to time, subject to the con
iroul of the General Assembly, *«U the wi.oie or
any part of the shares heid b) the commonwealth
in the stock of any Canal or turnpike Company,
for the purpose of reinvesting the proceeds of
•ale, in the stock of some olner simitar public
work.
12. That the President and hoard of public
works shall have power to appoint, in behalf ol
the commonwealth, s<> many directors of ever
public work, as shall bear to the whole number
of directors of such work, the proportion of trie
commonwealth’s shares of stock in such work,
to the whole number of diares aubsbribed thereto
13 That it shall he the duty of the president
and board ot public work* to keep a fair and ac
curate record o/all their proceedings, to he at
all time* open to the inspection of the General
Assembly, and of the president, directors, and
other officers of any interested therein, that they
shall report to the General Assembly at, or near
the commencement olevery annual session, the
exact state of the funds for internal iinnrovement
the progress and condition, noting especially
the nett income, of all the public works within the
Commonwealth : die surveys, plans and estimated
expeuee of such new works, as tney may recom
mend to the patronage of the General Assembly,
together with all oilier important information
wh.eh may he in their power to collect relative
to the objects committed to their trust.
14. And lastly, Itetoh^d, that pie appropria
tions contained in these resolutions shad conii
nuem force, until the first day of Janu*ry, I90y
except, at such times as the United States of A
menca may be involved in war, when the legis
lature naay withdraw,during tha period of ac tual
hostilities, the whi le or any part of the said fund
lor tlie purposes of defence, provided auek Willi
orawal tan he made Without a breach of public
faith r
IIoU«2*OF Dri.FCM.TK**
^ Miitvir, Jan.'l.
. ~ngroS3Cil bill-—“Concerning Misha Christian*
—" Concerning Austin Brocknybroujjli**—Con
•crniiijt kVancts Smith”—“hiding to the name
»f wiali O'jwjyr the surname Of Parker*—“Cun*
renting John If. Hyde tuid Cyrus Hyde*—were
sereraftv read a 2d time ami passed.
The fJ.pt 11 anti I. \. made reports in Favor of
establish.i<g a Turnpike Hoad from Manchester
t«* Petersburg— autl of incorporating a c.ompahy
oprj litt navigation of tl»e Occo^uan and its
branches.
A Communication was rereived from the Co
vernor, incompliance with the resolution of the
lUlhinst,—stating that no pains had been spared
hy his predecessor or himself to obtain the 13
honorary a words, which had been voted by the
Legislature to naval atul milstary officers—that
“ , r“'n the diificulty of having tlie work execu
ted!.ere,’* the Swords were directed tube made
»o Philadelphia—that two have been received, St
the rest are daily expected.
Tcisdat, Jan. 2.
f>n moti&n of Mr. Bowver, leave wai granted
to bring u Bill “ 1.» amend an Act, concerning
Lgrai.ting Appeals from Deci'ees in Chancery, pas
se*! the 2bth of Nov. 1754.”
On motion of Mr. Bryce, leave was given So
bring in a Bill •* to amend an Act, entitled, \n
act declaring the law in cases of Discounts and
Offsets.* .
CJn motion of ..Jr. Anderson (of Augusta,)(c*ve
was given to bring in a hill respecting mills, mill*
dams, and bllicr ubstructiimi to water-cotirses.
A motion was made by Mr. Kcatli (of Prmcc
V/iham,) tint the House do come to tlie follow
ing Resolution:
Itcsehnul, that, the argument agreed to he heartl
at the bar cf tliia house by the Committee of the
Trustees of the Theological Semiuary on this
dav, be postponed until the 25th day of January.
The reason asssigued fhr the delay was, that
one of the coinmitio (Mr. Wirt) was’at Wasiiing
ton on public business, .Mr. Hill was not in this
city, tin third (Air. John H. ll.ee) v* as considera
bly indisposed.
The said Resolution was lost—Mr. Doddridge
then mo\ ed. a resolution to postpone the air*,u
inent unt.l the 2-ith, which was also lost. °
At 12 o’clock, Mr. Rice appeared at the bar
of the House— when the resolution of the C. of
P. and U. voting reasonable tiie petition of the I
Trustees, was taken up.
Air Baker (of Cumberland) moved to strike !
out the words “ is reasonable,* and insert “ be i
rejected.”
-ncli motion, Mr. Rice opposed*-41* spoke a
considerable lime, and attempted to answer nil
ilie objections which imgut be urged against the
Petition. He stated tliai the Petitioners merely
asked tor a charter, to receive property for tlie
purpose of founding a Theological School, for the
education of poor and pious young men. If pro
perty should be bequeathed' to tbe institution,
how tv re they to recover it from the reluctant
heir, without the privileges of an act of incorpo
ration ?
The petition wa9, rebutted on a variety
of grouuds, by Messrs. Stevenson (of
Spottsylvania) and Robertson (of Dintvid
tlie)—Mr. Rice replied—when a motion
was made by Mr. Mercer to lay tlie Reso
lution on the table, to allow time (or enqui
ry and consideration—which was done.
On motion of Mr. King, resolved that
the Governor be requested to give such in
formation as he may have lately received
touching the Dismal Swamp Canal.
Mr. Maury, l'rotn the Committee ap
pointed to meet a Committee on the {Se
nate, and examine the ballots for a Senator I
of tl e United States—ottered a written
and special Rcportofthe circumstances of I
tlie case—whereupon, the Speaker pro
nounced his opinion tiiat no Report could
be received from the said Committee, be
cause the powers thereof expiretl upon the
adjournment of the House on the day be
fore, and the joint order of the Semite and
House o( Delegates not having been carri
ed into effect on the day appointed for that
purpose by the resolution of both Houses,
could not now be executed—from which
decision ol the Chair, an appeal was taken
by Mr. Doddridge, tor the purpose of try
ing the question, although he stated Ins
intention to vote in favor of the Speaker’s
decision : The question was put. Is the
decision of the Speaker correct ?—and de
ertnined in tlie affirmative, Aves 8J,
Noes 61). In the course of the proceed
ings, it ivas sta ed by Messrs. Stevenson
and Stanard (of Sjmttsylvania,) that Colo
nel Mercer would be withdrawn from the
contest.
A motion was then ma le by Mr. Stan
ard, that the House do agree to the follow
ing Preamble and Resolution :
“ The House of Delegates having decitl- !
ed, that its adjournment of yesterday, be- ,
fore the examination of the ballots, and as-1
ccrtainmcnt of the result of the Election of i
a senator to the Congress of tlie United
States, to supply the vacancy occasioned
by the resignation of William B. Giles,
and by the declension of John W. Eppes,
to accept of that office, appointed, by the
joint Resolution of the Senate and House
of Delegates, to take place on yesterday,
prevented the execution of that Orders and
consequently, tlwtt no Report from the
Committee appointed to examine the bal
lots can now be received :
“ Resolved, That this House will, on
'A ednesday tiie tliird inst. proceed, by
joint ballot with the Senate, to tJie elec
tion of d Senator in the Congress of the
United States, to supply the said vacancy.”
And the question being put thereupon,
was carried in the affirmative.
Yestbhday, the Senate concurred in
the Resolution of the H. off), for proceed
ing to the Election of a Senator of the U.
States—The two Houses accordingly pro
ceeded to make the Election. Gen. A.
T. Mason was the only person put in no
mination. The ballot stood thus :
For Arrnistead T. Mason 123
Scattering 33
Mr. John Burfoot was re-elected Audi
tor of Public Accounts, without opposition.
IMAVB deposited, for collection, in the hand*
ol Wntts* Lisnsir, Esq member oil he Lc.
gialature of tins stale from Prince Edward coun
ty, the bonds of the following persons, viz __
Samuel Cary & John Pryor, John Carter 8c China
Carter, two ot I Wl Cloptnn 8c John Hurrh, Ma
ri»n Oreen & Claiborne 8, Thomas They are fe
q«e»ted to make immediate payment to Mr.
f.indsay, at the capitol, otherwise tlie hornla will
be put in «uit.
JfcdSF BRADLEY.
January 6, 1818.
f
( -
C O N <i It K s 8.
’ y»'E:—Oee 39.
Mr. lalbut.ot Kentucky, appeared and
tuok Ins seat.
After the nrcscntation of one petition
unl^ (that of Mr. Bate) the chamber in
which they set not having been completely
arranged, and bat little business before
them.
The Senate adjourned to Tuesday.
HOUSE OF R E Pit ESENTJ&T1 VES.
FRIDAY, Dec. 29.
Mr. Ilansun, of Md. appeared and took
his scat.
Piic following petitions were presented
aud referred, vr«.
By Mr. Jewett, the petition of sundry
inhabitants of the town of Comstock, ill
V t. praying that the mails may not be o
pened or transported on Sundays.
By Mr. Root, the petition of Nicholas
Boom, praying for a pension.
By Mr. I'/iroop, sundry documents in
support of the petition ot Charles 1 login.
By Mr. Taliemadge, the petition of John
Deldiield. praying payment of a Revolu
tionary Claim.
By Mr. I fright, the petition of Nicho
las Bateman, praying compensation for
damages committed on his property by the
troops of the L. States which weretjuarter
eit in his vicinity in 1814.
lsy tiie Speaker, the memorial of the
Legislature nf the Mississippi Territory,
praying that the fractional sections of pub
lic land in that territory may be subdivid
ed ; and a |>e<ition from the same body
praying that the territory may be admitted
as a state into the Union; and another pe
tition from the same body, praying that die
officers and men who served under Lieut.
Col. Nelson and Major Hinds may re
ceive payment for their services : and an
other petition from the same bod}, praying
that such inhabitants of their territory as
may have suffered losses by the hostile* In
dians, may be remunerated by grants of
land out of that lately ceded to the United
States bv the said Indians.
Mr* fancey made a report on the peti
tion of Win. Morrisat, accompanied by a
bill for his relief 5 which was twice read
and committed.
Mr Lattimore, from the committee to
whom was referred the petition of the Le
gislature of the Mississippi territory, re
ported a bill to enable the people of the
Mississippi territory, to form a constitu
tion and sfate government, ami for the ad
mission of such state into the Union on an
equal tooting with the original stales :
which was twice read and committed.
Mr. Stanford, from the committee ap
pointed to revise the rules and orders of
the house, made a report, which was read
and committed.
Mr. liirdsail, from a select committee,
reported a biii for the icliet of Henry Fan
ning ; which was twice read and commit
ted:
The engrossed hill for the establishment
of an Invalid Co ps, was read a third time.
O 1 Motion of Mr. Pieasauts, who desir
ed time to examine the provisions of the
bdi. the question on its passage was defer
red, by lay ing the bill on the table.
l'he bill reported by the committee of i
VVays and Means, for enlarging the time :
for ascertaining transfers and changes of j
property affected by the act laying a di
rect tax, passed through a committee of ttsc
whole, and was ordered to be engrossed
lor a third reading ; as also was the hill
for the relief of Charles Markle, (giving
him permission to change his entry of a
purchase of public lands.)
MILITARY ACADEMIES.
The house lesolvcd itself into a commit
tee of the whole on the bill for establishing
three additional Military Academies.
Mr. Chappell proposed to change the lo
cation ot the Southern Academy from
Mount Dearborn to Columbia, on account
of the superior advantages of that place o
ver Mount Dearborn, and the eligibility of
its situation tor sucli an institution.
Mr. Ptcliens was in favor of a more up
land acife than either ol those mentioned,
and gave a decided perfercnce of the two
to Mount Dearborn over Columbia. lie
proposed a point in Buncombe county.
•Some further debate took place on this
motion, which was strenuously advocated
by Mr, Chappel, and opposed by Mr Pick
ens and Mr. Ilulbert.
The motion was negatived by a large ma
jority.
Mr. Pickens then moved to substitute “
Ashville in Buncombe county, North Ca
rolina, ” in lieu of“ Mount'Dearborn, 8.
C. ” which motion was also negatived by a
considerable' majority.
Mr. Burnside moved to amend the b;ll
so as to establish an academy at Carlisle,
Pen. in addition to the three named in the
bill, lie thought it due the extent and the
population of Pensylvania, to establish one
in that state ; and Carlisle, he 9aid, was pe
culiarly fitted for the location of a military
academy by its salubrity, the military es
tablishment of the United States already
there, &c.
1 his motion was also negatived by a
large majority.
Mr Pickens then moved to amend the
bill so as to limit the number of additional
academies to two, one within the District
of Columbia, and one at Asheville, in Bun
combe county, the advantages of which
situation he explained to the House.
I nis motion was opposed by Mr. John
son of Ay. When he concluded—
On motion of Mr. Pickens, the commit
tee rose, reported progress, and obtained
leave to sit again.
COMMERCE WITH G. BRITAIN.
Mr. Forsyth, from the committee of Fo
reign Relations, reported the following
A hi!! to regulate the commerce betwtvu
the territories of the United States and
of Il ia Britannic Majesty according to
the. Convention concluded the third davi
of July, 18i5. J I
Be it enacted djc. That the same duties
be and the same are hereby imposed on ar
ticle* o! the growth* produce or inal mfac
ture of his Britanic Majesty's tcrrltot >es in
Kurope imported into the United St*\**s in
British vessels, as are or shut! be iir.j wsed
on the importation of the like article i in
American vessels.
ciec. 2. +ind be it further enacted. ’That
the same tonnage and other duties and
charges are hereby imposed on British ves
sels in any of the ports of the United
States, as are or may be payable in tlio
same ports by vessels of the United Sttrtes,
except such British vcsmMs as shall r.cine
from the Hast or West Indies or the domi
nions of his Britannic Majestv in North
America.
Sec. 3. Jind be il enacted, That the saonc
bounty shall be allowed on the exportation
of any article, the growth produce or ma
nufacture of the United States, to his Bri
tannic Majesty s territories in Kuroiis
when such exportation shall be in British
vessels, as are or may Ik; allowed, when
such1 exportation is or may be in vessels of
the U. States.
^cc. 4. Jlnd be it further enacted, That
m all case.* where drawbacks are or may
lie allowed on the re-exportation of any
goods, the growth, produce or manufacture
of the territories of His Britannic Majesty,
the same drawbacks shall be allowed on
such rc-exportion where the original im
portation ot the same may have been in
British vessels, as are or may be allowed
on such re-exportation where the original
importation may have been in vessels of
ire United States.
feec. 5. rindJ>e it further enacted, That
so much of eacli and every act of Con
gress as is inconsistent with the provisions
el this act, be and tnc same o hereby re
pealed. J
Sec. 6. Jind he it further enacted. That
tl*is act shall continue in force until the
Sd of July 1819, and no longer.
The bill was twice read and referred to
a committee of the whole.
On motion i)l Air. 'J'firoop,
. Resolved, 1’liat the committee on Pen
sions and Revolutionary Claims be in
structed to enquire into expediency of in
creasing the rate of Pensions to officers and
soldiers of the United States, during the
late war with Great llritain ; and, also, in
to the expediency of amending the law re
lative to the proof required from officers
and privates in the militia to establish
their claim to a pension*
On in ti n fSlr Parris,
Resolved, That the committee on Mili
tary Affairs be instructed to enquire into
the expediency of providing of all claims
for 'yages due the estates of sueh non
commissioned officers, musicians and pri
vates as have died while in the service of
Me United btates, during the late war, up*
on the best evidence it may be in the pow
er of the person or persons making appli
cation therefor; considering the nature of
the claims respectively, (o produce.
Mr. Reynalds, adverting to the decision
oi the house the other day against his mo
tion for enquiring into the expediency of
reducing the of the public lands, said he
hoped he should be more foi tunafe in ano
ther attempt t*» favor those disposed to set
tle and cultivate the public lands. The
government had just issued a proclamation
for driving from the public lauds those who
l.ad actually settled on it. This was
doubtless and unpleasant task to the gov
ernment, but it appeared that it had been
thought a just policy. lie now wished to
give an opportunity to every man who
wanted land to purchase ground enough
to settle on. With this view hfe moved
the following resolution.
Resolved, That the committee on Public
l.ands be instructed to enquire into the ex
pediency of sub-dividing quarter sections
oflarid offered for sale, and also into (he
expediency of allowing a great.ei discount
lor the prompt payment of the purchase
money.
1 he question to agree to this pronoseii
resolution was decided in the negative, 53
to 40. ® ’ -
1 he house adjourned, to meet again on
Tuesday next.
IN SENATE—Jan. 9.
Several petitions were presented and referred,
but no business of moment done.
HOUSE OF /»'EPflESE YTJtTIFBS.
TorsuAr, Jas. 2, IblS.
A multitude of petitions were presented and
referred to various committees which shall to
hereafter enumerated'
Mr. Hihrrtvm, from the committee of Public
Lands, made unfavorable reports on Hie petition
of the municipal authority of the town o'Mobile,
and on the petition of Joseph and Joahua Horn ;
wlnclt wore read and concurred m.
>tr. lirmlhnry, from a select committee, re
porte.l a lull to authorise the discharge a .fame*
Jewett (of the district of Mainc) from hi* jmpri
aonmeut which was tw,ce read and committed.
Mr. might from a select Committee on tlm
subject, reported a bII to authorize the sett'e.
meut ami payment fbfeewain s'rrices ot Utc Mi
tia, (called out under sta»e authority, &c.) Thia
bill was twice read and committed.
Mr. n>»s from the select committee appointed
to enquire into die progresa of the printing of
the edition of the laws to which Congress have
subscribed, li.tndcd in a Idler from lh<j store titty
of state on the subject, from which it appear*
probable that they nuy Ur ready foi delivery in
all February next. J
The Cngmssod bill for the relief of Charles
M rkle, was read a third tiroe and passed.
The engrossed lull for enlarging the time for
ascertaining the annml transfers nul char-cs of
property subject to the direct tax, and forothcr
purposes, was read a third time and passed
MILITARY AC V l)K VflK.S.
The house, according to the order of the day
again resolved itself into a cnmmitteof the whole*
on the bill for establishing three aiMdionJ Mill*
tary academies.
The amendments on the talde at Cre Fr-m-r.
sitting on tins subject, (*i*. on motion of Vfi\
I iCAens, to hmit Hie increase to t** A» »d'-mi«
one within the District of Columbia, and one at
A she v die, Runcombe county, N. C.) was taken
up, and rejected. '
, *Z’Wi!e ll,en, pwpwe‘1 tnameisd the bill so as
tocstabhs.i ane additional Academy only, and that
one w.thm d*e D,strict ofColumhm. This
he supported by argument. gamg to shew the,.."
ptdiency t»f such an institution being u much as