the expediency of authorizing the Secretary to make reasonable and just compensation to agents employed for the payment of pensions.

Mr. Young submitted the following motion; which was considered, by unanimous consent, and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of ceding to the State of Illinois such of the public lands as remain unsold in the " American Bottom," in that State, which extend along the Mississippi river, from the mouth of Wood river to the mouth of the Kaskaskia river, and are bounded by the bluffs or highlands on the one side, and the river on the other, for the purpose of aiding said State in improving the health of its citizens, by draining the lakes, ponds, and marshes in that part of the country.

On motion by Mr. Young,

Ordered, That the report of the president of the board of managers for draining the lakes and ponds in the American Bottom be printed.

Mr. Benton submitted the following motion; which was considered, by unanimous consent, and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on Foreign Relations be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing for the appointment of a "Minister resident" at Constantinople, instead of a Chargé d'Affaires; and that the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire into the expediency of allowing a salary, in addition to fees, to the United States Consul at the same place.

Mr. Benton submitted the following motion; which was considered, by unanimous consent, and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to report to the Senate general statements in relation to the salt duties, the importation of foreign salt, and the use of foreign salt, free of duty, in the fisheries of the United States, and also in the beef and pork trade, showing-

1st. The quantity of salt annually imported into the United States since the year 1789, and the places whence imported, with the total value thereof from each place, and the average original cost thereof per bushel, and the average quarterly market price in New York.

2d. The annual amount of drawback of duties paid on salt used in curing fish, beef, and pork, for export, and of bounties and allowances on fishing vessels, in lieu of a drawback of the salt duty, and as a commutation and equivalent therefor, so as to show the annual amount of the salt tax refunded, or commuted to the curers of fish exported; and, also, the amount of the tax refunded to exporters of beef and pork, so long as beef and pork enjoyed that benefit.

3d. The same amounts computed in bushels of salt, so as to show the annual quantity of salt, free of duty, which has been used, or allowed for, in the fisheries to the present time, and, also, in the beef and pork trade, so long as exported beef and pork were entitled to a drawback of the salt duty. The Senate proceeded to consider the motion submitted by Mr. Benton the 17th instant, in relation to the commerce and navigation of the United States with foreign powers; and agreed thereto:

The Senate proceeded to consider the motion submitted by Mr. Benton the 17th instant; which was amended, and agreed to, as follows:

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be con.municated to the Senate the correspondence of Commodore Porter, Chargé d'Affaires at Constantinople; also, the correspondence of the

Consuls of the United States at Constantinople, Smyrna, Bronsa, Salonica, Cyprus, Cos, Aleppo, Beirout, inclusive of Damascus and Said, Alexandria, and Candia, so far as the said correspondence relates to the commerce and navigation carried on within the Turkish dominions, and in the Pachalick of Egypt, and may not, in the opinion of the President, be improper to be communicated.

Mr. Rives submitted the following motion for consideration:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury communicate to the Senate, at as early a day as practicable, the information called for by the following heads of inquiry:

First. The period at which the third bond of the Bank of the United States sold to that institution, amounting to $2,254,871 38, was placed to the credit of the Treasurer, on the books of the bank; the terms on which it was negotiated; the person acting on behalf of the bank, with whom. the negotiation was made; the particulars of any understanding or agreement, that the proceeds of the same should be left on deposite with the said bank, until wanted in the ordinary disbursements of the Government; and what understanding or arrangement, if any, has taken place respecting the benefit which might accrue to the bank, in the transfer of money it should make to distant places on account of the Government.

Secondly. The period when the sum of $1,600,000, in part payment of the second bond of the Bank of the United States, was placed to the credit of the Treasurer by that bank; and the nature of the agreement or understanding had in reference to the payment of a part of the said bond before, and of another part after, it became due.

Thirdly. Whether any sum or sums of the public money have been deposited in the Bank of the United States, other than those derived from the payment or sale of its bonds; if so, the amount and date of each deposite, and by whom, and by whose authority and direction they were made.

Fourthly. The aggregate balance standing weekly to the credit of the Treasurer in the Bank of the United States, its branches or agencies, whether subject to draft or not, as well as the weekly aggregate balance in the Treasury, from the time the first deposite was made in the said bank, of moneys arising from the payment or sale of its bonds, up to the present period.

Fifthly. A list of all the branches or agencies of the said Bank of the United States, on which the Treasury Department has drawn drafts; the amount of public moneys directed to be placed at each, and of the drafts severally drawn on them; and the rates of exchange between Philadelphia and each of the places to which such sums were ordered to be transferred. Sixthly. The amount, as far as it can be conveniently ascertained, that has been drawn from the Bank of the United States, its branches or agencies, in the notes of said bank, for paying Indian annuities or other claims of the Indians on the Government, or for defraying the expenses attending the removal of the Indians; and, in general, the nature of the "arrangements," if any, "made for the more distant public disbursements in the notes of the bank;" together with all the correspondence, agreements, and. instructions, given or entered into, connected with any or all of the heads of inquiry above stated.

Resolved, also, That the Secretary of the Treasury communicate to the Senate the nature of the arrangements made by him with those banks in which, according to his report of 3d instant, portions of the public money

have been "placed to the credit of the Treasurer, on special deposite;" the kinds of money in which the said "special deposites" were made; whether the same were entered on the books of the banks; whether the identical moneys deposited have continued to be held by the banks; whether the drafts of the Treasury Department that have been drawn on these deposites have been paid in the specific moneys deposited; and whether the balances remaining are part and parcel of the very money's originally deposited. The bill (S. 7) for the relief of William East, having been reported by the committee correctly engrossed, was read a third time. On the question, "Shall this bill pass?"

It was determined in the affirmative, Nays

On motion by Mr. Tipton,

18,

18.

The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the Senators present, Those who voted in the affirmative are,

Messrs. Allen, Benton, Buchanan, Clay, of Alabama, Foster, Fulton, Hubbard, King, Mouton, Niles, Norvell, Pierce, Robinson, Swift, Walker, Wall, Williams, of Maine, Williams, of Mississippi.

Those who voted in the negative are,

Messrs. Brown, Calhoun, Clayton, Davis, Knight, Lumpkin, Lyon, Morris, Prentiss, Roane, Robbins, Ruggles, Smith, of Connecticut, Spence, Strange, Tipton, Wright, Young.

The Senate being equally divided, the Vice President determined the question in the affirmative.

So it was

Resolved, That this bill pass, and that the title thereof be as aforesaid. Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein.

The bill (S. 66) for the relief of Laurent Millaudon, having been reported by the committee correctly engrossed, was read a third time.

On motion by Mr. Lumpkin,

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

The following bills, having been reported by the committee correctly engrossed, were severally read a third time:

S. 18. A bill to prevent the counterfeiting of any foreign copper, gold, silver, or other coin; and to prevent the bringing into the United States or uttering any counterfeit copper, gold, silver, or other coin;

S. 19. A bill to amend an act entitled "An act more effectually to provide for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States, and for other purposes;'

S. 21. A bill to confirm the sale of certain reservations;

S. 26. A bill to amend the act entitled "An act to require the judge of East and West Tennessee to hold a court at Jackson, in said State," approved June 18, 1838;

S. 38. 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;

S. 112. A bill for the relief of John Newton ;

S. 51. A bill for the relief of Jean B. Vallé;

S. 65. A bill further to postpone the fourth instalment with the States. 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. 67) in addition to an act for the relief of Walter Loomis and Abel Gay, approved July 2d, 1836, having been reported by the committee correctly engrossed, was read a third time.

On motion by Mr. Hubbard,

Ordered, That the further consideration of the bill be postponed to Monday next; and that the report of the Committee of Claims on the subject, with certain papers, be printed.

On motion,

The Senate adjourned.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1838.

Mr. Roane presented the petition of the executor of William Terrill, deceased, praying compensation for his services as an officer in the war of the revolution; which was referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.

Mr. Williams, of Mississippi, presented the petition of William Dowsing, register of the land office for the northeasten land district in Mississippi, praying the reimbursement of moneys advanded by him for clerk hire in his office; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. Wright presented the memorial of Mary W. Thompson, widow of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander R. Thompson, deceased, late of the army of the United States, praying to be allowed an annuity of full pay for life, in consideration of the gallant conduct and death of her husband in the public service; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Wright presented the memorial of Russell Comstock, praying Congress to purchase and publish certain discoveries, not susceptible of being patented, alleged to have been made by him, for the preservation and increase of agricultural products; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Calhoun presented the memorial of the Charleston chamber of commerce, praying the establishment of nautical schools in the principal ports of the Union, for the education and maintenance of boys for the merchant service; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. Benton presented the petition of William Triplett, praying the confirmation of his title to a tract of land; which was referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims.

On motion by Mr. Prentiss,

Ordered, That the petition of James Smalley, on the files of the last session, be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

On motion by Mr. King,

Ordered, That the memorial of the president and directors of the Gainesville and Narkeeta Railroad Company, on the files of the last session, be referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals.

On motion by Mr. Davis,

Ordered, That the petition of Polly Hart, on the files of the last session, be referred to the Committee on Pensions.

On motion by Mr. Robinson,

Ordered, That five hundred additional copes of the communication of the Secretary of the Treasury of the 18th instant, transmitting a report of

the Commissioner of the General Land Office, be printed for the use of the Commissioner of the General Land Office.

Mr. Prentiss, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom the following bills were referred :

S. 11. A bill for the relief of John McCloud;

S. 12. A bill to establish a pension agency at Montpelier, in the State of Vermont;

S. 33. A bill granting a pension to David Waller; reported them severally without amendment.

Mr. Pierce, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the petition of Joseph Bassett, reported a bill (S. 98) for his relief; which was read, and passed to the second reading.

Mr. Fulton, from the Committee on Public Buildings, to whom was referred the joint resolution (S. 2) authorizing the examination and payment of the claims of the workmen upon the public buildings, reported it without

amendment.

Agreeably to notice, Mr. Prentiss asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 99) for the relief of the administrator on the estate of Joseph Edson; which was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and, with the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Agreeably to notice, Mr. Tallmadge asked and obtained leave to bring a bill (S. 140) to abolish imprisonment for debt in certain cases; which was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Agreeably to notice, Mr. Roane asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 101) to extend the jurisdiction of the corporation of the city Washington over the Potomac bridge, and to authorize the making of deeds for certain lots in said city; also a bill (S. 102) to authorize the erection of a hospital in the city of Washington, and for other purposes; which were severally read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia.

Agreeably to notice, Mr. Ruggles asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 103) for the relief of Isaac Hilton; which was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and, with the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Agreeably to notice, Mr. Rives asked and obtained leave to bring in the following bills:

S. 104. A bill for the relief of Andrew Forrest;

S. 105. A bill to regulate the navy ration, and for other purposes; which were read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Agreeably to notice, Mr. Hubbard asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 106) to authorize the payment of equitable commissions to the agents or attorneys of persons in whose favor awards have been made under three several treaties between the United States and certain foreign powers, which awards have been retained in the Treasury in payment of debts to the United States; which was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Agreeably to notice, Mr. Niles asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 107) for the relief of Jabez L. White and Asa White; which was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.