sloop Wasp, a gold medal, with suitable devices, and a silver medal, with like devices, to each of the commissioned officers, and also a sword to each of the midshipmen and the sailing master of the aforesaid vessel, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of the gallantry and good conduct of the officers and crew, in the action with the British sloop of war Reindeer, on the twenty-eighth of June, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fourteen; in which action determined bravery and cool intrepidity, in nineteen minutes, obtained a decisive victory by boarding. Approved, November 3, 1814. V. Resolutions, expressive of the sense of Congress, of the gallantry and good conduct with which the reputation of the arms of the United States has been sustained by Major General Brown, Major General Scott, Major General Porter, Major General Gaines, Major General Macomb, and Brigadiers Jiipley and Miller. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the thanks of Congress be, and they are hereby presented to Major General Brown, and, through him, to the officers and men, of the regular army, and of the militia under his command, for their gallantry and good conduct in the successive battles of Chippewa, Niagara, and Erie, in Upper Canada, in which British veteran troops were beaten and repulsed by equal or inferior numbers; and that the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, emblematical of these triumphs, and presented to Major General Brown. Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, with suitable emblems and devices, and presented to Major General Scott, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of his distinguished services in the successive conflicts of Chippewa, and Niagara, and of his uniform gallantry and good conduct in sustaining the reputation of the arms of the United States. Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause gold medals to be struck, with suitable emblems and devices, and presented to Brigadier General Ripley, Brigadier General Miller and Major General Porter, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of their gallantry and good conduct in the several conflicts of Chippewa, Niagara and Erie. Resolved, That the thanks of Congress be, and they are hereby presented to Major General Gaines, and, through him, to the officers and men under his command, for their gallantry and good conduct, in defeating the enemy at Erie on the fifteenth of August: repelling, with great slaughter, the attack of a British veteran army, superior in number, and that the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, emblematical of this triumph, and presented to Major General Gaines. Resolved, That the thanks of Congress be, and they are hereby presented to Major General Macomb, and, through him, to the officers and men of the regular army under his command, and to the militia and volunteers of New York and Vermont, for their gallantry and good conduct, in defeating the enemy at Plattsburg on the eleventh of September; repelling, with one thousand five hundred men, aided by a body of militia and volunteers from New York and Vermont, a British veteran army, greatly superior in number, and that the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, emblematical of this triumph, and presented to Major General Macomb. Approved, November 3, 1814. Nov. 3, 1814. Major General Brown. Major General Scott. Brigadier Generals Ripley, Miller and Porter. Major General Gaines. Major General Macomb. lay < ing and prayer requested. VI. ResOhVTiOK,rcgueiting the President ofthe United States to recommend a day if public humiliation, fasting and prayer. It being a duty peculiarly incumbent, in a time of public calamity and war, humbly and devoutly to acknowledge our dependence on Almighty God, and to implore his aid and protection: Therefore, Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That a joint committee of both houses wait on the President of the United States, and request that he recommend a day of public humiliation, prayer and fasting, to be observed by the people of the United States with religious solemnity, and the offering of fervent supplications to Almighty God for the safety and welfare of these states, his blessing on their arms, and a speedy restoration of peace. Dec. 1,1814. VII. Resolution, forfurnishing the American Antiquarian Society with a copy of the journals of Congress, and of the documents published under their order. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That one copy of the public journals of the Senate and of the House of Representatives, and of the documents published under the orders of the Senate and House of Representatives respectively, which have been, or shall be published by virtue of a resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives, passed at the last session of Congress, be transmitted to the executive of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, for the use and benefit of the American Antiquarian Society of said commonwealth. Approved, December 1, 1814. Feb. 22, 1815. People of Louisiana and New Orleans. VIII. Resolutions, expressive nf the high sense entertained by Congress of the patriotism and good conduct of the people of Louisiana and of New Orleans, during the late military operations before that city. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That Congress entertain a high sense of the patriotism, fidelity, zeal and courage with which the people of the state of Louisiana promptly and unanimously stepped forth, under circumstances of imminent danger from a powerful invading army, in the defence of all the individual, social and political rights held dear by man. Congress declare and proclaim that the brave Louisianians deserve well of the whole people of the United States. Resohed, That Congress entertain a high sense of the generosity, benevolence and humanity displayed by the people of New Orleans, in voluntarily affording the best accommodations in their power, and giving the kindest attentions to the wounded, not only of our own army, but also to the wounded prisoners of a vanquished foe. Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause the foregoing resolutions to be communicated to his excellency, the Governor of Louisiana, accompanied with a request that he cause the greatest possible publicity to be given to them, for the information of the whole people of Louisiana. Approved, February 22, 1815. House of Representatives, during the succeeding Congress, with the necessary stationery and printing; which advertisement shall describe the kind of stationery and printing required: and that the proposals to be made be accompanied with sufficient security for their performance. And it shall be the duty of the secretary and clerk aforesaid, in the month of April thereafter, to notify the lowest bidder or bidders (whose securities are deemed sufficient) of the acceptance of his or their proposals: Provided, That this resolution shall not be so construed as to prevent the secretary and clerk aforesaid from contracting for separate parts of the supplies of stationery and printing required to be furnished. Approved, March 3, 1815. Distribution of the laws of the United States. March 3,1815. XII. Resolutions, relative to the distribution of the laws of the United States. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of State cause to be distributed among the members of the present Congress, copies of the laws of the United States, ordered by law to be printed, as soon as the same shall be completed. Resolved, That so many of the remaining copies of the laws as are not already directed to be distributed, be deposited in the Congressional library. Approved, March 3,1815. XIII. RESoltmoN,/or the apppointment qf a joint committee, to wait upon the Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That a joint committee of both Houses wait upon the President of the United States, and request that he recommend a day of thanksgiving, to be observed by the people of the United States, with religious solemnity, and the offering of devout acknowledgments to Almighty God, for his great goodness manifested in restoring to these United States the blessing of peace. ACTS OF THE FOURTEENTH CONGRESS UNITED STATES, Passed at the first session, which was begun and held at the City of James Madison, President of the United States; John Gaillard, STATUTE I. Chap. I.—An Act to authorize the President of the United States, to lease for the term therein mentioned, the new building on Capitol hill, with the appurtenances, for the better accommodation of Congress. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is authorized to lease in behalf of the United States, from the owners thereof, the new building on Capitol Hill, on square seven hundred and twenty-eight, with the adjoining buildings and appurtenances, for the term of one year next after the passing of this act, and from thence until the capitol is in a state of readiness for the reception of Congress, at a rent not exceeding sixteen hundred and fifty dollars per annum, to be paid half yearly by the United States: Provided always, That any lease to be executed by virtue of this act shall and may be determinable, at any time after the expiration of the first year, at the pleasure of Congress. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That so soon as the lease aforesaid shall have been duly executed, it shall and may be lawful for the President of the United States, to pay to the owners aforesaid, the sum of five thousand dollars, for fixtures, and other extraordinary expenses, incurred in fitting up the said buildings, and otherwise preparing them for the better accommodation of Congress; and that for this purpose the sum of five thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby appropriated, to be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. Approved, December 8, 1815. Dec. 8, 1815. President authorized to leaae a house on Capitol hill, for the use of Congress. Proviso. A sum to be paid for fixtures, fee. Appropriation of $5000. Chap. II.—Jin Act making additional appropriations to defray the expenses of the army and militia, during the late war with Great Britain. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America,in Congress assembled, That for defraying the expenses of the military establishment, and those incurred by calling out the militia, during the late war with Great Britain, in addition to the Statute I. Dec. 21, 1815. (o) The decease of the Honourable Elbridge Gerry, Vice President of the United States, took place before the meeting of Congress in December, 1815. 251 |