of the United States; and, also, relative to the pay, emoluments, and other allowances, of the officers of the Navy and Marine Corps, the expenses of courts-martial in that Department, the number of desertions, &c., and requiring of the Secretary of the Navy, "his opinion on such alterations, or further provisions of law, as he may consider it expedient to make, in order to promote a more perfect discipline in the Navy and Marine Corps, to prevent the frequent recurrence of courts-martial, and insure to the public service, in the said establishments, the highest degree of economy and efficiency," were again read for consideration. Mr. LLOYD made a few remarks explanatory of his object in the introduction of the resolutions, and they were agreed to by the Senate without division. Governor Tompkins' Accounts. [MAY, 1824. Canal in the Territory of Florida. The bill from the other House "to anthorize the Territory of Florida to open a canal through the public lands, from the river St. John's to the bay of St. Augustine," was taken up for consideration in Committee of the Whole. Messrs. SMITH, LOWRIE, KING of Alabama, BROWN, and CHANDLER, made some remarks on the subject. Mr. LowRIE moved the indefinite postponement of the bill, which motion was carried. WEDNESDAY, May 26. Enrico Causici. The resolution introduced on leave, yester day, by Mr. EATON, directing the Secretary of the Senate to pay, from the contingent fund, to The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Com- the artist employed in constructing an allegorimittee of the Whole, the bill, entitled "An act cal ornament for a clock for the Senate, the making an appropriation for the payment of further sum of $1,000, to enable him to prothe claims of Daniel D. Tompkins, late Gov-ceed in the work, was again read for consideraernor of the State of New York, against the United States; " and no amendment having been made, it was reported to the Senate; and, on the question, "Shall this bill pass to a third reading?" it was determined in the affirmative -yeas 24, nays 4, as follows: YEAS.-Messrs. Bell, Benton, Brown, Clayton, Maison Rouge Grant. tion. Some remarks on the subject were submitted by Messrs. EATON, MACON, LANMAN, VAN DYKE HOLMES of Maine, TAYLOR of Virginia, and SMITH; and the resolution was refused a third reading. After the consideration of Executive business, the Senate adjourned to 7 o'clock, P. M. Seven o'clock in the Evening. After the consideration of Executive business, the Senate adjourned to eight o'clock to morrow morning. THURSDAY, May 27. The bill from the House of Representatives A message from the House of Representatives "to authorize the legal representatives of the informed the Senate that the House have passed Marquis de Maison Rouge to commence an ac- a resolution for the appointment of a joint com tion in the courts of the United States, to try mittee, to wait on the President of the United the validity of his title to lands, the claim to States, and inform him, that, unless he may which is disputed by the United States," was have any further communication to make, they taken up for consideration in Committee of the are ready to adjourn; in which they request Whole. After a discussion of considerable the concurrence of the Senate. length, in which Messrs. VAN DYKE, DICKERSON, H. JOHNSON of Louisiana, VAN BUREN, J. S. JOHNSTON of Louisiana, KING of Alabama, LOWRIE, and BROWN, took part, the bill was refused a third reading, 14 in favor of, and 12 against it, as follows: YEAS.-Messrs. Benton, Holmes of Mississippi, Henry Johnson, Josiah S. Johnston, Kelly, King of Alabama, Lowrie, Noble, Ruggles, Seymour, Smith, Thomas, Van Buren, and Williams. NAYS.-Messrs. Barton, Bell, Brown, Chandler, Clayton, Dickerson, Eaton, Edwards, Gaillard, Holmes of Maine, Lanman, Lloyd of Massachusetts, Macon, Parrott, and Vandyke. So the bill was rejected. The Senate proceeded to consider the said resolution, and concurred therein; and Messrs. SMITH and MACON were appointed the commit tee on the part of the Senate. A message from the House of Representa tives informed the Senate that the House, having finished the business before them, are about to adjourn. Ordered, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives that the Senate, having finished the Legislative business before them, are about to adjourn. After the consideration of Executive business, the PRESIDENT adjourned the Senate sine die. MONDAY, December 1, 1823. At 12 o'clock, precisely, the Clerk called the House to order, and, the roll being_called, the following members of the House of Representatives appeared and took their seats, to wit: LIST OF REPRESENTATIVES. New Hampshire.-Ichabod Bartlett, Matthew Harvey, Massachusetts.-Samuel C. Allen, John Bailey, Francis Rhode Island.-Job Durfee, Samuel Eddy. From Maine-William Burleigh, Joshua Cushman, From New Hampshire-Matthew Harvey, Arthur Maryland.-William Hayward, jr., Joseph Kent, John North Carolina.-Henry Conner, John Culpeper, Weldon South Carolina.-Robert Campbell, John Carter, Joseph Gist, Andrew R. Govan, James Hamilton, jr., George Mc Vermont.-William C. Bradley, Daniel A. A. Buck, Duffie, Joel R. Poinsett, Starling Tucker, John Wilson. Samuel C. Crafts, Rollin C. Mallary, Henry Olin. New York.-John W. Cady, Churchill C. Cambreleng, New Jersey.-George Cassedy, Lewis Condict, Daniel Georgia.-Joel Abbot, George Cary, Alfred Cuthbert, Tennessee.-Adam R. Alexander, Robert Allen, John Louisiana.-William L. Brent, Henry H. Gurley, Edward Livingston. Mississippi.-Christopher Rankin. Indiana.-Jacob Call, Jonathan Jennings, John Test. Alabama.-John McKee, Gabriel Moore, Geo. W. Owen. Michigan Territory.-Gabriel Richard, Delegate. H. OF R.] Election of Speaker. [DECEMBER, 1823. From Massachusetts-Samuel C. Allen, John Bai- | Elisha Whittlesey, William Wilson, and John C. ley, Francis Baylies, Benjamin W. Crowninshield, Wright. Henry W. Dwight, Timothy Fuller, Aaron Hobart, Samuel Lathrop, John Locke, Jeremiah Nelson, John Reed, Jonas Sibley, and Daniel Webster. From Rhode Island-Job Durfee, and Samuel Eddy. From Connecticut-Noyes Barber, Samuel A. Foot, Ansel Sterling, Ebenezer Stoddard, Gideon Tomlinson, and Lemuel Whitman, From Vermont-William C. Bradley, Daniel A. A. Buck, Samuel C. Crafts, Rollin C. Mallary, and Charles Rich. From New York-John W. Cady, Churchill C. Cambreleng, Lot Clark, Ela Collins, Hector Craig, Rowland Day, Justin Dwinell, Lewis Eaton, Charles A. Foote, Joel Frost, Moses Hayden, James L. Hogeboom, Lemuel Jenkins, Elisha Litchfield, Dudley Marvin, Henry C. Martindale, John Richards, Robert R. Rose, Peter Sharpe, Henry R. Storrs, James Strong, John W. Taylor, Egbert Ten Eyck, Jacob Tyson, William Van Wyck, Stephen Van Rensselaer, Isaac Williams, Isaac Wilson, Silas Wood, and William Woods. From New Jersey-George Cassedy, Lewis Condict, Daniel Garrison, George Holcombe, James Matlack, and Samuel Swan. From Pennsylvania-James Allison, Samuel Breck, John Brown, James Buchanan, Samuel Edwards, William Cox Ellis, Patrick Farrelly, John Findlay, Walter Forward, Robert Harris, Joseph Hemphill, Samuel D. Ingham, George Kremer, Samuel McKean, James S. Mitchell, Thomas Patterson, George Plumer, Thomas J. Rogers, John Tod, Daniel Udree, Isaac Wayne, and James Wilson. From Delaware-Louis McLane. From Maryland-William Hayward, jr., Joseph Kent, John Lee, Peter Little, Isaac McKim, and George E. Mitchell. From Virginia-Mark Alexander, William S. Archer, William Lee Ball, Philip P. Barbour, John S. Barbour, Robert S. Garnett, Joseph Johnson, Jabez Leftwich, William McCoy, Charles F. Mercer, Thomas Newton, Arthur Smith, William Smith, Alexander Smyth, Andrew Stevenson, James Stephenson, George Tucker, and Jared Williams. From North Carolina-Henry Conner, John Culpeper, Weldon N. Edwards, Alfred M. Catlin, Charles Hooks, John Long, Willie P. Mangum, Romulus M. Saunders, Richard D. Spaight, Robert B. Vance, and Lewis Williams. From South Carolina-Robert Campbell, Joseph Gist, James Hamilton, jr., Geo. McDuffie Joel R. Poinsett, Starling Tucker, and John Wilson. From Georgia-Joel Abbot, George Cary, Thomas W. Cobb, Alfred Cuthbert, John Forsyth, and Wiley Thompson. From Kentucky-Richard A. Buckner, Henry Clay, Robert P. Henry, Francis Johnson, John T. Johnson, Robert P. Letcher, Thomas P. Moore, Philip Thompson, David Trimble, David White, and Charles A. Wickliffe. From Tennessee-Adam R. Alexander, Robert Allen, John Blair, John Cocke, Samuel Houston, Jacob C. Isacks, James B. Reynolds, James T. Sandford, and James Standefer. From Louisiana-William L. Brent. From Alabama-John McKee, and Gabriel Moore. From Arkansas Territory--Henry W. Conway. After the Clerk had finished calling the members of States, and a quorum was ascertained to be present, Mr. TAYLOR, of New York, rose and remarked, that, it having been publicly announced that he was considered a candidate for the Speaker's Chair, and several Representatives having avowed their intention to vote in his favor; for the purpose of correcting any mistake upon this subject which might exist either here or elsewhere, he thought proper to state that he was not a candidate, and that, if his friends consulted his wishes, they would not, on this occasion, support him for the office. This frank declaration, he said, appeared to be due to the House and to those gentlemen who were understood to be candidates, as well as himself. Election of Speaker. The House then proceeded, by ballot, to the election of a Speaker, and, upon an examination of the ballots, it appeared that HENRY CLAY, one of the Representatives from the State of Kentucky, had 139 votes, and that PHILIP P. BARBOUR, one of the Representatives from the State of Virginia, had received 42 votes. Mr. CLAY was, therefore, declared to be duly elected, and conducted to the Speaker's Chair, from whence he made acknowledgments to the House in the following terms: GENTLEMEN: I pray you to accept my most respectful thanks for the honor you have just conferred on me. The station of Speaker of this House has been always justly considered as one of great respectability, as well as of high responsibility. But, st the present period, when we are assembled under a new census, with our number considerably enlarged, and the highest interests of a greatly augmented population committed to our charge, it has acquired much additional importance, which requires from the favored object of your selection, his most grateful acknowledgments and the expression of the profoundest sensibility. The principles which should regulate the execution of the duties of the incumbent of the Chair are not difficult to comprehend, although their application to particular instances is often extremely delicate and perplexing. They enjoin promptitude and impartiality in deciding the various questions of order as they arise; firmness and dignity in his deportment towards the House; patience, good temper, and courtesy, towards the individual members; and the best arrangement and distribution of the talent of the House, in its numer From Ohio-Mordecai Bartley, Philemon Beech-ous subdivisions, for the despatch of the public busier, John W. Campbell, James W. Gazlay, Duncan McArthur, William McLean, John Patterson, John Sloane, Joseph Vance, Samuel F. Vinton, ness, and the fair exhibition of every subject presented for consideration. They especially require of him, in those moments of agitation from which no DECEMBER, 1823.] Amendment of the Constitution-Election of President and Vice President. [H. OF R. deliberative assembly is always entirely exempt, to remain cool and unshaken amidst all the storms of debate, carefully guarding the preservation of the permanent laws and rules of the House from being sacrificed to temporary passions, prejudices, or interests. It is on such occasions as these, too, that the Chair stands most in need of your support, of your candor, of your liberality, of your unbiased judgment. I am not so presumptuous, gentlemen, as to promise you that I shall perform the arduous duties of which I have presented an imperfect sketch. All I dare say is, that I will exert an anxious, faithful, and unre-pointed yesterday to wait on the President of mitting endeavor to fulfil the expectations by which I have been so much honored. And may we not indulge the hope, that, with the blessing of Divine Providence, all our deliberations and all our proceedings may tend to sustain the dignity of the House, to maintain the honor and character of the country, and to advance the public welfare and happiness. The oath to support the Constitution of the United States, as prescribed by law, was then administered to the Speaker by Mr. NEWTON, one of the Representatives from Virginia, and the same oath (or affirmation) was then administered by the Speaker to all the other members present. A motion was then made by Mr. CAMPBELL, of Ohio, that MATTHEW ST. CLAIR CLARKE, Clerk to the late House of Representatives, be appointed Clerk to this House; and the motion was agreed to, unanimously. The oath to support the Constitution of the United States, together with the oath of office, as prescribed by the act aforesaid, were then administered to the Clerk by the Speaker. On motion of Mr. NEWTON, it was Resolved, unanimously, That THOMAS DUNN be appointed Sergeant-at-Arms, BENJAMIN BURCH Doorkeeper, and JOHN OSWALD DUNN Assistant Doorkeeper to this House; and that they severally give their attendance accordingly. On motion of Mr. TOMLINSON, it was Ordered, That a message be sent to the Senate to inform them that a quorum of this House have assembled, and have elected HENRY CLAY their Speaker, and that this House is now ready to proceed to business; and that the Clerk do go with said message. On motion of Mr. NEWTON, Resolved, That a committee be appointed on the part of this House, to join such committee as have been or may be appointed on the part of the Senate, to wait on the President of the United States, and inform him that a quorum of the two Houses have assembled, and are ready to receive any communications he may be pleased to make to them. Ordered, That Mr. NEWTON and Mr. VAN RENSSELAER, be the committee on the part of the House, and that the Clerk do acquaint the Senate therewith. And then the House adjourned. TUESDAY, December 2. Several other members, to wit: from Pennsylvania, PHILIP S. MARKLEY and ANDREW VOL. VII.-38 STEWART; from Maryland, RAPHAEL NEALE, JOHN S. SPENCE, and HENRY R. WARFIELD; from Virginia, JOHN RANDOLPH; from North Carolina, HUTCHINS G. BURTON and THOMAS H. HALL; from South Carolina, JOHN CARTER and ANDREW R. GOVAN; from Ohio, THOMAS R. Ross; and from Indiana, JONATHAN JENNINGS and WILLIAN PRINCE, appeared, produced their credentials, were qualified, and took their seats. Mr. NEWTON, from the joint committee, apthe United States, reported that the committee had performed the duties of their appointment, and that the President answered that he would make a communication, in writing, to the two Houses this day. A message from the Senate informed the House that they have passed a resolution authorizing the appointment of two Chaplains, of different denominations, during the present session, one by each House, who shall interchange weekly; in which resolution the Senate ask the concurrence of this House. The said resolution was read, and concurred in by the House. On motion of Mr. LATHROP, it was ordered that this House will, on Monday next, the 8th instant, proceed to the appointment of a Chaplain to Congress on their part. A Message was then received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, which was read, and committed to the Committee of the whole House on the state of the Union; and six thousand copies thereof ordered to be printed for the use of the members of this House. [For this Message see Senate proceedings, ante p. 466.] The House then adjourned. WEDNESDAY, December 3. Two other members, to wit: from New York, SAMUEL LAWRENCE; and from Alabama, GEORGE W. OWEN, appeared, and produced their credentials. RICHARD K. CALL also appeared, and produced his credentials, as the Delegate from the Territory of Florida. FRIDAY, December 5. Mr. LAWRENCE, of New York, Mr. Owen, of Alabama, and Mr. CALL, delegate from Florida, were severally qualified, and took their seats. Amendment of the Constitution-Election of President and Vice President. On motion of Mr. McDUFFIE, of South Carolina, it was resolved that a select committee be appointed to inquire into the expediency of recommending to the several States the propriety of amending the Constitution of the United States in such manner, that the mode of electing members of the House of Representatives in Congress may be uniform throughout the United States; also, that the mode of choosing Electors for President and Vice President of the United H. OF R.] Commissioner to Greece. [DECEMBER, 1823. States may be, in like manner, uniform; and, | duced his credentials, was qualified, and took also, that the election of the said officers may, his seat. in no event, devolve upon the House of Representatives. Messrs. MCDUFFIE, ALEXANDER SMYTH, REED, STORES, BUCHANAN, WICKLIFEE, and CARY, were appointed a committee pursuant to the above resolution. Mother of Commodore Perry. The following resolution was offered by Mr. HAMILTON, of South Carolina: Resolved, That the Naval Committee be instructed to inquire into the justice and expediency of allowing Mrs. Sarah Perry, the mother of the late Captain Oliver Hazard Perry, a pension during her natural life. Mr. HAMILTON mentioned, in offering this resolution, that a bill embracing this object had been reported at the last session of Congress, but not acted on from the want of time. His present object was to revive that bill. Mr. TRIMBLE, of Kentucky, not meaning to object to this resolution, suggested the propriety of including in it the case of Mrs. Lawrence, the widow of the gallant captain of that name. Mr. HAMILTON said he thought that though the cases of the venerable Mrs. Perry and the widow of the lamented Lawrence, were in many respects similar, yet there were some points of difference in them which rendered it inexpedient to blend them together. Mr. CAMBRELENG, of New York, disclaiming all opposition to the object of the resolution, an object in which he feelingly and fully concurred, was of opinion that the cases of Mrs. Lawrence and Mrs. Perry might better have a separate consideration. The case of Mrs. Perry required a distinct act of legislation-that of Mrs. Lawrence did not, being one of a class of cases heretofore regularly provided for by law, her husband having fallen in battle. But it should be remembered that, through some inadvertence, the act, providing pensions for the widows and orphans of naval officers killed in battle, was omitted to be revived at the last session of Congress, previous to which it had expired. The fund from which that relief was dispensed was a sacred one; it had been raised out of the Navy itself, and it should ever be held sacred to the object for which it was raised. He intended, on Monday, to move for a revival of the act, and if, as he trusted, it should be revived, he cherished a strong hope that the Committee of Claims would put the venerable lady who was the subject of the present resolution, also, on the pension list. The fund was ample to embrace both classes of cases. The resolution was adopted; and the House adjourned to Monday. MONDAY, December 8. Another member, to wit, JOHN HERKIMER, from the State of New York, appeared, pro GABRIEL RICHARD also appeared, produced his credentials, was qualified, and took his seat as the delegate from the Territory of Michigan, Quapau Indians. Mr. CONWAY presented a memorial of the General Assembly of the Territory of Arkansas, praying that an appropriation may be made for the purpose of extinguishing the title of the Quapau tribe of Indians to certain lands in that Territory.-Referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. Relief of Vice President Tompkins. A Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, which was read, and is as follows: To the House of Representatives of the United States: By an act of the last session of Congress, it was made the duty of the accounting officers of the Treasury to adjust and settle the accounts of Daniel D. Tompkins, late Governor of the State of New York, on principles of equity and justice, subject to the re vision and final decision of the President of the United States. The accounting officers have, in complifive thousand one hundred and ninety dollars, in favor ance with this act, reported to me a balance of thirtyof Governor Tompkins, which report I have had under consideration, together with his claim to an additional allowance, and should have decided on the same before the present time, had I not delayed my decision at his request. From the view which I have taken of the subject, I am satisfied, considering all the circumstances of the case, that a larger sum ought to be allowed him than that reported by the accounting officers of the Treasury. No appropriation, however, having been made by the act, and it appearing, by recent information from him, that the sum reported would afford him an essential accommodation at this time, the subject is submitted to the consideration of Congress, with a view to that object. JAMES MONROE. WASHINGTON CITY, Dec. 7, 1823. Commissioner to Greece. Mr. WEBSTER, of Massachusetts, submitted, for consideration, the following: Resolved, That provision ought to be made, by law, for defraying the expense incident to the appointment of an agent, or commissioner, to Greece, whenever the President shall deem it expedient to make such ap pointment. of In offering the resolution, Mr. WEBSTER stated, it was far from being his wish, in any manner, to commit the House in this or any the political contests of Europe; but the Presi dent of the United States having, in his Mes sage to Congress, not only expressed a belief that the Greek nation, in its present struggle with its oppressors, had the good wishes of the whole civilized world, but also advanced the opinion that the Turkish dominion over that Country was lost forever; he thought that, if such were the fact, it was important that Con |