69 to 149 be referred to the Committee on Pensions; and that the bills numbered 150 and 151 be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. On motion by Mr. Hubbard, Ordered, That the Committee of Claims be discharged from the consideration of the bill (H. R. 668) for the relief of the legal representatives of Thomas Murray; and that it be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. On motion by Mr. Hubbard, Ordered, That the Committee of Claims be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of Nicholas Buckner. Mr. Hubbard, froni the Committee of Claims, to whom the following bills. were referred: H. R. 366. "An act for the relief of Ebenezer Lobdell;" H. R. 738. "An act for the relief of Daniel Snyder;" reported them, severally, without amendment; and that they ought not to pass. Mr. Hubbard, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 732) for the relief of Nathaniel Mitchell, reported it without amendment. Mr. Hubbard, from the Committee of Claims, to whom the following bills were referred: H. R. 519. "An act for the relief of William Colt and William Donaldson ;" H. R. 599. "An act for the relief of John E. Alexander;" reported them, severally, without amendment. On motion by Mr. Hubbard, Ordered, That the Committee of Claims be discharged from the further consideration of documents relating to the claim of William Walls. On motion by Mr. Pierce, Ordered, That the Committee on Pensions be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of George McCall; and that the petitioner have leave to withdraw his petition. On motion by Mr. Pierce, Ordered, That the Committee on Pensions be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of Andrew Bean; from the further consideration of the petition of the widow of James B. Spafford; from the further consideration of the petition of the widow of Samuel Rodgers; and from the further consideration of the documents in relation to the claim of Azariah Webb. Mr. Pierce, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred a bill (H. R. 386) for the relief of Thomas McClelland and James Smith, reported it without amendment. Mr. Merrick, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 751) for the relief of Jesse E. Dow, reported it without amend ment. Mr. Strange, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom the following bills were referred: H. R. 375. "An act for the relief of William Saunders and William R. Porter, sureties of William Estis, late paymaster of the fourth regiment of Virginia troops stationed at Norfolk, during the late war;" H. R. 699. "An act for the relief of Sarah H. B. Stith;" reported them, severally, without amendment; and that they ought not to passed. Mr. Strange, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 352) for the relief of certain heirs and legal representatives of James Wilson, late of the town of Alexandria, in the District of Columbia, reported it with an amendment; which was read. Mr. Lumpkin, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 247) for the relief of Thomas J. Triplett, reported it with an amendment; which was read. On motion by Mr. Norvell, Ordered, That the Committee on Revolutionary Claims be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of the representatives of John Fulford. Mr. Wall, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 374) for the relief of Polly Lining, executrix of the last will and testament of Charles Lining, deceased, who, in his lifetime, and at the time of his death, was the executor of the last will and testament of Edward Blake, deceased, reported it without amendment. Mr. Wall, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 414) for the relief of Daniel Ward and George Ficklin, reported it without amendment; and that the bill ought not to pass. On motion by Mr. Wall, Ordered, That the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of a number of the merchants of New York, and others, presented the 4th instant, relating to costs of suits. Mr. Sevier, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 1092) to provide for the location and temporary support of the Seminole Indians removed from Florida, reported it without amendment. The Senate proceeded to consider the said bill as in Committee of the Whole; and no amendment being made thereto, it was reported to the Senate. Ordered, That it be read a third time. Agreeably to notice, Mr. Linn asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 269) to authorize the Washington County Turnpike Company, in the State of Missouri, to construct a road through the public lands; which was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals. Mr. Strange, agreeably to notice, asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 270) to amend an act entitled "An act to prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States from and after the first day of January, 1838," approved the 2d of March, 1807; which was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on Commerce. Mr. Foster reported from the committee that they had examined and found duly enrolled the following bills: S. 5. An act for the relief of the heirs of John Brahan, late receiver of public moneys at Huntsville, Alabama; S. 7. An act for the relief of William East; S. 13. An act for the relief of Elisha Town; S. 14. An act for the relief of Erastus Fairbanks and Thaddeus Fairbanks; S. 15. An act for the relief of Thomas Sumpter; S 16. An act for the relief of Sarah Angel, and the other heirs at law of Benjamin King, deceased; S. 42. An act for the relief of John Newton; S. 51. An act for the relief of Jean B. Vallé; S. 56. An act for the relief of the owners of the British brig Despatch; S. 57. An act to remunerate the captors of the privateer Lydia; S. 76. An act for the relief of Jechonius Pigot and Benjamin Lecraft, sureties of James Manney, late collector of the customs for the district of Beaufort, in the State of North Carolina; S. 77. An act to remit or refund to the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad Company the duties upon railroad iron. A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Burch: Mr. President: The Speaker of the House of Representatives having signed fourteen enrolled bills, I am directed to bring them to the Senate for the signature of their President. The Vice President signed the enrolled bill (S. 21) entitled "An act to confirm the sale of certain reservations;" the enrolled bill (S. 177) entitled "An act to amend and carry into effect the intention of an act entitled 'An act to renew the patent of Thomas Blanchard,' approved June 30, 1834;" also, the twelve enrolled bills this day reported to have been examined and they were delivered to the committee to be presented to the President of the United States. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (H. R. 893) making appropriations for the payment of the revolutionary and other pensioners of the United States for the year 1839; and no amendment being made thereto, it was reported to the Senate. Ordered, That it pass to a third reading. The bill (S. 170) for the relief of the legal representatives of Elihu Hall Bay, having been reported by the committee correctly engrossed, was read a third time. On motion by Mr. Bayard, Ordered, That it lie on the table. The following bills, having been reported by the committee correctly engrossed, were severally read a third time: S. 159. Bill for the relief of Alvarez Fisk, and the legal representatives of Thomas P. Eskridge; S. 231. Bill for the relief of the legal representative of John J. Bulow, jr., deceased. Resolved, That the said bills pass, and that their respective titles be as aforesaid. Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein. The bill (S. 160) to provide for the armed occupation and settlement of that part of Florida which is now overrun and infested by marauding bands of hostile Indians, was read the second time, and considered, as in Committee of the Whole; and, After debate, and the consideration of Executive business, The Senate adjourned. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1839. Mr. Linn submitted documents in relation to the claim of Hercules L. Dousman to a tract of land; which were referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims. Mr. Morris presented the petition of J. L. Edmunds and others, praying that a steam revenue cutter may be built and equipped for the purpose of cruising on the northern lakes; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce. Mr. Prentiss presented two petitions from a number of citizens of Windham, in the State of Vermont, praying the abolition of slavery and the slave trade in the District of Columbia; the suppression of the slave trade between the States; and that Congress will refuse admission into the Union, to any new State whose constitution tolerates slavery. A motion being made that the petitions be received, On motion by Mr. Williams, of Mississippi, Ordered, That the motion to receive the petitions lie on the table. Mr. King presented the petition of the president and directors of the Selma and Tennesse Railroad Company, praying a grant of public land for the construction of their railroad. Ordered, That it lie on the table, and be printed. Mr. Benton presented the petition of John Robinson and others, watchmen in the Navy and War Departments, praying that the benefits of so much of the act of 3d March, 1837, as allowed a percentage on the salaries of certain officers of the Government, may be extended to them; which was referred to the Committee on Finance. Mr. Bayard submitted a document in relation to a plan for expelling the Indians from the Territory of Florida. Ordered, That it lie on the table, and be printed. Mr. Fulton, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom the following bills were referred: H. R. 637. “An act for the relief of William Marcus, of Arkansas H. R. 662. "An act for the relief of John Dougherty, of Wisconsin ;" reported them with an amendment to each; which amendments were read. Mr. Fulton, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom the following bills were referred : H. R. 346. "An act for the relief of the heirs and assignees of Peter Alba :" H. R. 547. "An act for the relief of Solomon Sturges, assignee of Rezin Frazier;" H. R. 609. "An act for the relief of Enoch Matson;" reported them, severally, without amendment. On motion by Mr. Norvell, Ordered, That the Committee on Revolutionary Claims be discharged from the further consideration of documents relating to the claim of the heir of John Goggin; and from the further consideration of the petition of the widow of Thomas Crook. Mr. Clay, of Alabama, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom the petition of John S. Wilson was referred, reported a bill (S. 271) for the relief of John S. Wilson, of Cherokee county, Alabama; which was read, and passed to the second reading. Mr. Clay, of Alabama, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the petition of C. G. Gunter, reported a bill (S. 272) to relinquish the reversionary interest of the United States to a certain reservation in the State of Alabama; which was read, and passed to the second reading. Mr. Rives, from the Commitiee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 483) for the relief of Ezekiel Jones, reported it without amendment. On motion by Mr. Roane, Ordered, That the Committee on the District of Columbia be discharged from the further consideration of the memorial of the Friendship Fire Company, of Alexandria, D. C. Mr. Roane, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, to whom was referred a memorial of the president and directors of Georgetown College, reported a bill (S. 273) to incorporate Georgetown College, in the District of Columbia; which was read, and passed to the second reading. Mr. Mouton, from the Committee on Private Land Claims, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 630) for the relief of J. Eloi Rachal, reported it without amendment. Mr. Mouton, from the Committee on Private Land Claims, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 631) for the relief of Paul Poissot, reported it without amendment. Mr. Williams, of Mississippi, reported from the committee that they had this day presented to the President of the United States the following enrolled bills: S. 5. An act for the relief of the heirs of John Brahan, late receiver of public moneys at Huntsville, Alabama ; S. 7. An act for the relief of William East; S. 13. An act for the relief of Elisha Town; S. 14. An act for the relief of Erastus Fairbanks and Thaddeus Fairbanks; S. 15. An act for the relief of Thomas Sumpter; S. 16. An act for the relief of Sarah Angel, and the other heirs at law of Benjamin King, deceased; S. 42. An act for the relief of John Newton; S. 51. An act for the relief of Jean B. Vallé; S. 56. An act for the relief of the owners of the British brig Despatch; S. 57. An act to remunerate the captors of the privateer Lydia; S. 76. An act for the relief of Jechonius Pigot and Benjamin Lecraft, sureties of James Manney, late collector of the customs for the district of Beaufort, in the State of North Carolina; S. 77. An act to remit or refund to the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad Company, the duties upon certain railroad iron; S. 177. An act to amend and carry into effect the intention of an act entitled "An act to renew the patent of Thomas Blanchard," approved June 30th, 1834; H. R. 491. "An act to reorganize the district courts of the United States in the State of Alabama." Mr. Morris submitted the following motion for consideration : Whereas the right and privilege of petition is an existing principle, established by the laws of nature in all animated beings which are made capable to feel or to suffer, and is designed to be exercised, not for opposition or resistance, but for relief, or to obtain favor only; and this right, where the people peaceably exercise it, for relief or favor from the Government, is placed, by the constitution of the United States, above the power of Legislative bodies, who cannot rightfully control the time when, or the manner or matter, in or for which the people shall petition. But recent events in Congress, in their proceedings on this important subject, have rendered it doubtful in many minds how far that body consider the people justifiable and ought to be heard in the exercise of this right, and more |