HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, February 24. The following report, yes terday transmitted to the house by the president of the United States, was read: "The acting secretary of state to whom was referred the reso lutions of the house of representatives of the 15th inst_requesting the president of the United States to cause to be laid before the hous such information as he shall deem necessary to be communis cated, touching the state of relations existing between the United States and the Barbary Powers, has the honor to state, that, according to the latest accounts from Morocco, Tunis and Tripoli, ing, nor is there any particular reason to believe that any change our relations with those powers remained upon their former foot has since taken place. And the house adjourned. Monday, Feb. 27. On motion of Mr. Yancey, the ther consideration of all the subjects which have committee of claims were discharged from the fur It will appear by the documents accompanying the message of been referred to them at the present session, yet undey of Algiers had violently and without just cause, obliged the acted on. the president to congr sss on the 7th November, 812, that the consul of the United States and all American citizens then in Mr. Eppes, from the committee of ways and Algiers, to leave that place, in a manner highly offensive to their means, reported a bill "to place more effectually in country and injurious to themselves, and in violation of the treaty, the state courts and district courts of the United then subsisting between the two nations. It appears, moreover, what originated in his own injustice. American citizen on board a neutral vessel. The unfortunate per that he exacted from the consul, under pain of immediate impri-States the jurisdiction in the cases therein mentionsonment, a large sum of money, to which he had no claim but ed"-(in cases arising under the internal revenue These acts of violence and outrage have been followed by the laws)-which was twice read and committed. capture of, at least, one American vessel, and by the seizure of an Mr. Eppes, also from the committee of ways and sons, thus captured, are yet held in captivity, with the exception means, to whom was referred the bill from the se of two of them, who have been ransom d. Every effort to obtain nate to repeal (in certain events) the discriminating the release of the others has proved abortive; and there is some duties now imposed on foreign tonnage, and on goods reason to believe that they are held by the dey as a means by which he calculates to extort from the United States a degrading treaty. Wares and merchandize, imported into the United JAMES MONROE. States, reported the same without amendment, and moved that it pass to a third reading. Department of state, February 0. A number of bills from the senate were twice read-After some time the galleries cleared, and the house sat with closed doors until 5 o'clock, when it adjourned. The matter was afterwards referred to a committee of the whole. On motion of Mr. Forsyth, the committee, of foSaturday, February 25 Mr. Eppes, from the comtion of sundry papers which had been referred to reign relations were discharged from the considera. mittee of ways and means, reported a bill to prohi them during the present session, which in consebit the exportation of specie, gold or silver coin; which was twice read and committed. quence of peace, they had thought it unnecessary Mr. Eppes, from the same committee, reported a bill to authorise a loan for a sum not exceeding dollars; which was twice read and com mitted. Mr. Pleasants, from the naval committee, report. ed a bill authorizing the purchase of the vessels captured on lake Champlain; which was twice read and committed. M.. Pleasants, also from the naval committee, to whom was referred the bill for repealing certain acts relative to the flotilla service, reported an amendment thereto, the object of which was to authorize the president to cause to be sold such of the gun-boats now in service as he shall deem it unne cessary to retain. And, this amendment being agreed to, the bill was ordered to be read a third time, and and was accordingly subsequently read a third time,) passed, and the concurrence of the senate desired in the amendment. On motion of Mr. Newton, Ordered, That the digest of the manufactures of the United States made in pursuance of the order of this house under the direction of the secretary of the treasury, be distributed among the members of the house of representatives and senate of the United States, and among the executive authorities of the several states and territories. to act on, The house resumed the consideration of the report of the committee of the whole on the bill fixing the military peace establishment of the United States. be retained from ten to six thousand men, there On the question to concur in reducing the force to rose an animated and deeply interesting debate, which continued to a late hour. The speakers to day who favored the reduction to six thousand, were Messrs. Sheffey, Goldsborough, Pickering, Desha, Stockton, Macon, Farrow, Potter, King, Sharp, Jackson of Va. and Eppes; those who opposed it were Messrs. Hopkins of Ky. Forsyth, Fisk of Vt. Calhoun, Grosvenor, Gholson, Rhea, Kim, Wright, Cuthbert, Stuart and Hanson. The debate was not limited to the subject, but extended over the whole field of our foreign relations, and embraced a discussion of the terms of the treaty. The question on the reduction was at length decided is follows: YEAS.-Messrs. Aiston, Avery, Baylies of Mass. Bigelow, Bow. en, Boyd, Bradbury, Brigham, Brown, Burwell, Caperton, Canaun, Champion, Cilley, Clopton, Coxe, Crouch, Culpeper, Davenport, ton, Geddes, Goldsborough, Hale, Harris, Henderson, Hungerford, A resolution for appointing a committee to en-Davis of Pa. Desha. Ely, Epps, Farrow, Findley, Franklin, Gasquire into the expediency of providing by law for meeting of the next congress (special session) was agreed to. a Huib rt, Jackson of R. L. Jackson of Va. Johnson of Ky. Kennedy, Kent of N. Y. Kent of Md. King of Mass. Law, Lewis, Lovett, Lyle, Macon, Montgomery, Moseley, Ormsby, Pearson, Pickering, Piper, Pitkin, Potter, J. Reed, Roane, Ruggles, Schureman, Sharp, Afer some other business, not necessary at pre-Shelf y, Sherwood Slaymaker, Stanford, Stockton, Strong, Sturges, sent to noticeTaggart, Thompson, Vese, Ward of Mass. Wheaton, Whit, Wil cus, Williams, Wilson of Mass.-75. The house resolved itself into a committee of the whole on the bill fixing the military peace establishment of the United States, Mr. Macon in the chair. After Mr. Troup had explained the views of the military committee, in regard to this bill, and the grounds on which they had proposed to fix the force of the peace establishment at 10,000 men- Mr. Desha moved to amend the bill by striking out ten and inserting six thousand as the remaining force. This motion, as might be expected, gave rise to considerable debate. NAYS-Messrs. Alexander, Anderson, Barbour. Bard, Barnett, Bines, Butler, Calhoun, Comstock, Condit, Crawford, Creighton, Cuthbert, Duval, Fisk of Vt. Fisk of N. Y. Forsythe, Gholson, Goodwyn, Gourdin, Griffin, Grosvenor, Hall Hanson, Hasbrouck, Hawes, Hawkins, Hopkins of Ky. Hubbard, Humphreys, Irwin, K rr. Kershaw, Lefferts, Lowndes. M'Coy, M'Kim, Moore, Nelson, Newton, Oakly, Parker, Pickens, Pleasants, W. Reed, Rea of Pen, Rhea of Ten. Rich, Ringgold, Robertson, Sage, Sevier, Seybert, Smith of N. Y. Snith of Vir. Stuart, Tannehill, Taylor, Telfair, Troup, Udree, Wilson of Pa. Winter, Wright, Yancy-65. So the force to be retained was reduce from ten to six thousand. Mr. Cannon renewed the motion which he had unsuccessfully made in committee of the whole, to strike out so much of the bill as allows a land bounty (in addition to the advance of pay) to such officers as shall be discharged. The motion was decided as follows. The bill from the senate to continue in force the act for establishing trading houses with the indian tribes, was read a third time and passed. The engrossed bill "regulating an i defining the duties of the United States' judge for the Illinois TEAS-Messrs. Alston, Baylies of Mass. Bigelow, Boyd, Brad- territory," was read a third time and passed. bury, Brigham, Caperton, Cannon, Champion, Cilley, Coxe, CrawThe engrossed bill "to fix the military peace ford, Culpeper. Ely, Farrow, Gaston, Geddes, Goldsborough, Hale, Hall, Henderson, Hulbert, Jackson of R. I. Kennedy, Kent, establishment of the United States," was read a of N. Y. King of Mass. Law, Lewis, Lovett, Macon, Mosely, Oak-third time and passed; as also was the bill to vest ley, Pickering, Piper, Pitkin, John Reed, Wm. Reed, Ruggles, Schurenan, Sheffey, Sherwood, Slaymaker, Stanford, Stockton more effectually in the state courts, and in the disSturges, Taggart, Taylor, Thompson, Vose, Ward of Mass, trict courts of the United States, jurisdiction in the Wheaton, White, Wilcox, Wilson of Mass.-54. cases therein mentioned. NAYS-Messrs. Barbour, Bowen, Butler, Calhoun, Clopton, Condiet, Creighton, Crouch, Cuthbert, Eppes, Fisk of Vt. Fisk The bill making appropriations for the support of of N. Y. Franklin, Gholson, Goodwyn, Gourdin, Grosvenor, Har the navy of the United States; and the bill making ris, Hasbrouck, Hawkins, Hopkins of Ky. Hubbard, Humphreys, Hungerford, Jackson of Virg. Johnson, Kent, of Md. Kerr. Ker appropriations for the support of the military estabshaw, Lefferts, Lowndes, MCoy, Moore, Nelson, Newton, Ormslishment (graduated by the peace establishment bill) by. Fleasants, Rea of Pen. Rich, Roane, Robertson, Sage, Sharp were ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. binith of Va. Troup, Udree, Wilson of Penn. Wood, Yancey-50. So he land bounty was stricken out, Mr. Cannon then moved to strike out the second section, which proposes to make a similar allowance to staff officers deranged in virtue of the act. The first of these bills was sead a third time, passed, and sent to the senate. The bill concerning invalid pensioners, (the annual bill on the subject) passed through a committee of the whole, and, after occupying considerable was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. And the house adjourned. On this motion a warm debate commencedAnd the house adjourned, after a sitting of near-time of the house on proposed amendments thereto, ly seven hours. Tuesday, Feb. 28. Various bills being read, &c. (to be noticed below.) The galleries of the house were cleared and its doors closed, and remained so for more than four hours. When the doors were again open Thursday, March 2. Mr. Eppes, from the com. mittee of ways and means, to whom was referred the enquiry into the expediency of making an appropriation for surveying the Creek lands designated in the resolution, reported that no appropriation is ne The house resumed the consideration of the bill fixing the military peace establishment-and after cessary." some time spent thereon, it was ordered to a third Mr. Eppes, from the same committee, laid before the house a letter addressed to him as chairman of reading. Wednesday, March 1.-Mr. Macon from the com-the committee of ways and means, by the secretary mittee on public expenditures, made a report stating of the treasury, summitting to their consideration their inability to investigate the subject to their a proposition to provide for paying the interest and satisfaction, during the present session, the general gradually reducing the stock debt which has been business of which has been so urgent, and recom. created during the last war; which was ordered to mending the appointment of a committee on the be printed. [This report shall be given hereafter.] subject, to sit during the recess. On motion of Mr. Eppes, the committee of ways and means were discharged from the consideration of the several subjects referred to them during the session, and not yet acted on. Mr. Gaston submitted for consideration the following resolution: Resolved, That the post-master-general be directed to report to the next congress a plan for establishing, with the co-operation of the states, a national road from Maine to Georgia, and from Mile Jedgeville to New-Orleans, inclusive, passing through the city of Washington, and as far as may be practicable, through the seats of government, or principal towns in the Atlantic states. A motion was made by Mr. Rhea of Ten. to amend the same by adding to the end thereof the following: "And from the city of Washington to the respective seats of government of the states of Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio." This motion was negatived, and the resolution agreed to as originally proposed. The bill from the senate to repeal certain acts therein mentioned (prohibitory and non-importation acts) having been reported by Mr. Forsyth, of the committee of foreign relations, without amendment, was ordered to a third reading, and was subsesequently read a third time and passed. On motion of Mr. W. Reed, the committee of naval investigation was discharged from the investigation of matters referred to them; and they were referred to the board of navy commissioners. On motion of Mr. Jackson of Va. the militia com mittee were discharged. The bill making appropriations for the support of the military establishment, during the year 1815; and the bill concerning invalid pensioners, were read a third time, passed and sent to the senate. The house being in committee of the whole, on the bill authorizing a loan for the service of 1815-on the question to fill the blank for the amount of the loan, Mr. Eppes expressed his regret that this bill had been delayed to so late a period of the session-a deMr. Forsyth also made the following report. lay which had not arisen, however, from any neglect The committee of foreign relations, to whom was on the part of the committee of ways and means; but referred the message of the president of the United from the pressure of other business. The loan neStates recommending the passage of a law to exclude cessary for the present year, was for the purpose of foreign seamen from employment in American ves- redeeming treasury notes, charged on the sinking sels, report, that the present session of congress ne-fund. Of these notes there would fall due, in the cessarily terminating on the third day of March, year 1815, eight millions and upwards, and in the there is not sufficient time to give this subject the month of March 1815, ten millions of dollars, being deliberate examination its importance demands.the whole amount now in circulation, viz. 18,452,000 They therefore recommend the following resolution: dollars. The loan might be confined to the amount "Resolved, That the further consideration of the message of the of notes payable within the present year, but as the president of the United States respecting the exclusion of foreign notes due in 1815 may return to the treasury as a Zamen from employment in American vessels bo postponed until next session of congress. part of the receipts for the present year, being rea The report was read and concurred in. ceivable in payment of all debts due the United The amendments of the senate to the bill supple-States, it had been thought better to authorize the mentary to the act for the better organization of the loan for the whole amount. He therefore moved ta conpts of the U. States, were read and concurred in. fill the blank with the sum of 18,452,500 dollars. And the motion was agreed to. tions of the revenue law, resembling the provisions of the bill lately passed for preventing intercourse with the enemy.] Mr. Fisk, of Vt. moved that the bill be read a third time. Mr. Stockton moved that the bill be indefinitely postponed. On motion of Mr. Eppes, two new sections were added to the bill, one to authorize the secretary of the treasury to accept in payment of any loan such treasury notes as have been actually issued and are by law chargeable on the sinking fund; the other to enable the secretary of the treasury to cause to be paid interest on treasury notes which have fallen due an I have not been paid for the want of funds, inter-course of which Messrs. Stockton, Wm. Reed, Grosest whereon has not of course since accrued. venor and Sheffey, advocated the motion, and Messrs, Fisk of Vt. Rhea, Wright, Eppes, Alsian and New This motion gave rise to a warm debate, in the The bill was reported to the house, and ordered to be engrossed for a third reading; and was subse-ton opposed it. quently read a third time, passed and sent to the se nate. The bill from the senate further supplementary to the act for the settlement of the Yazoo claims, passed through a committee of the whole, was ordered to a third reading, and was read a third time and passed. The house then sat a short time in conclave, and, before the doors were opened, removed the injunction of secrecy from their proceedings. [Which related to a declaration of war against Algiers.] At this stage of the debate On motion of Mr. Johnson of Ky, the bill was ordered to lie on the table, with a view to take up the bill fixing the military peace establishment. The amendments of the senate to the bill from this house fixing the military peace establishment, were taken up. The amendments to the first section of the bill proposes to strike out the word "peace," so as to fix the military establishment instead of "military peace establishment," as the bill now reads. The second The order of the day being called for on the bill amendment proposes to strike out six and insert from the senate to "authorise settlement and pay-teen in lieu thereof, so as to make the military estament of certain claims for the services of the mi-blishment fifteen instead of six thousand men. litia" Mr. Fisk of Vt. moved to postpone the consideration thereof indefinitely. This motion gave rise to a very animated and rather acrimonious debate, embracing, beside the real| question, the merits of the conduct of the governors of Massachusetts and Connecticut, their doctrines as to the militia, and the general conduct of the Eastern states opposed to the government. The debate lasted perhaps two hours; and the question on indefinite postponement being taken, was decided as follows: The question on the first amendment was decided as follows, by yeas and nays. For the amendment 39 86 So the house refused to strike out the word peace as above stated. The question on inserting the fifteen instead of r in the amount of the military establishment, was decided as follows For the amendment 18 100 So the house refused to agree to this amendment of the senate. And the house adjourned at a little before ten o'clock. YEAS-Messrs. Alexander, Alston, Anderson, Avery, Bard, Barnett, Bines, Bowen, Brown, Calhoun, Cannon, Comstock, ConIn like manner, they refused to agree to every one diet, Crawford, Creighton, Crouch, Cuthbert, Desha. Duval, Findley, Fisk of N. Y. Forsythe, Franklin, Gourdin, Griffin, Hall, of the senate's amendments; among which was one Harris, Hasbrouck, Hubbard, Humphreys, Johnson, of Ky. Kent, to strike out the land donation to disbanded officers of Mil. Kershaw, King of N. C. L-arts, Lowndes, Lyle, Macon, and soldiers. M'Kin. Moore, Ormsby, Parker, Pickins, Piper, Rea of Pen. Rhea of Ten. Rich, Ringgold, Roane, Robertson, Sage, Seybert, Sharp, Smith of Pen. Smith of Vir. Tannehill, Taylor, Telfair, Troup, Cdree, Williams, Wilson of Pa. Yancey.-63. NAYS-Messrs. Barbour, Baylies of Mass. Bigelow, Bradbury, Brigham, Burwell, Caperton, Champion, Cilley, Clopton, Cooper, Coxe, Culpeper, Davenport, Ely, Eppes, Farrow, Gaston, Gholson, Goldsborough, Goodwyn, Grosvenor, Hale, Hanson, Hawes, Hopkins of Ky. Hungerford. Hulbert, Jackson of R. I. Jackson of Va. Kennedy, Kerr, King of Mass. Law, Lovett, M'Coy, Montgomery, Mosely, Nelson, Newton, Oakley, Pearson, Pickering, Pitkin, Pleasants, Potter, J. Reed, W. Reed, Ridgely, Ruggles, Schure man, Sevier, Sheffey, Sherwood, Slaymaker, Stanford, Stockton, Stuart, Sturges. Taggart, Thompson, Vose, Ward of Mass. Whea ton, White, Wilcox, Wilson of Mass. Winter, Wright.-69. The house then adjourned to meet at 6 o'clock this evening. The house also passed a bill to increase the con pensation of the secretary at arms of the senate, ad ding thereto an increase of the compensation to the sergeant at arms, and the door keeper and assistant door keeper of the house. EVENING SITTING. Friday, March 3. The main question on the bill for the security of the collection of duties on imports and tonnage, being put in consequence of a vote of the house for the "previous question" there being a disposition to argufy it-it was passed to a third reading as follows: YEAS-Alexander, Alston, Anderson, Avery, Barnett, Bowen, Brown, Burwell, Butler, Calhoun, Clendenin, Comstock, Condict, Crawford, Creighton, Crouch, Cuthbert, Davis of Pen. Desha, Du vall, Eppes, Fisk of Vt. Fisk of N. Y. Gholson, Goodwyn, Gourdin, Grifin, Hall, Harris, Hasbrouck, Hawes, Hubbard, Hum. phreys, Irwin, Johnson of Ky. Kennedy, Kent of Md. Kerr, Ker. shaw, Lefferts, Lyle, M'Coy, M'Kim, Montgomery, Moore. MurRich, Roane, Robertson, Sage, Sevier, Seybert, Smith, of Pen free, Ormsby, Parker, Pickens, Piper, Pleasants, Rhea of Ten. Smith of Vir. Strong, Tanneill, Taylor, Troup, Udree, Wilson of Penn. Yancey-67. NAYS-Messrs. Baylies of Mass. Bigelow, Bradbury, Brigham, Caperton, Cilley, Clopton, Coxe, Culpeper, Davenport, Ely, Farrow, Gaston, Geddis, Grosvenor, Hale, Hopkins of Ky. Hungerford, Hurlbert, King of Mass. Law, Lovett, Moseley, Nelson, Oak The bill to authorise a loan for a sum not exceed-ley, Pearson, Pickering, Pitkin, Potter, Win. Reed, Ridgely, Rug ing 18,452,800 dollars, was read a third time, pass-Stanford, Stockton, Stuart, Sturges, Taggart, Vose, Ward of Mass, gles, Schureman, Sheffey, Sherwood, Slaymaker, Smith of N. Y. ed and sent to the senate. Wheaton, White, Wilcox, Winter-48. The bill was then read a third time. Mr. King of Mass. moved to recommit the bill for The amendment of the senate, to the bill to define the duties, and fix the compensation of the collectors of the direct tax and internal duties, were amendment.-Negatived. agreed to, ayes 75. It goes to leave undefined the compensation after the first of January next, fixing nate. it up to that time only. The bill was then passed, and returned to the se The thanks of the house were then voted to the The bill from the senate, "further to provide for speaker, to which he made a very neat reply. the collection of the duties on import and tonnage," The bill to authorize the purchase of the vessels was read a first and second time. [This bill con captured on lake Champlain, passed through a con tains a number of provisions, applicable to viola-mittee of the whole, and was ordered to be engro.. ed for a third reading; and was subsequently read a third time and passed, States: it was on the same bill the debate was re sumed on Friday last. The bill from the senate to repeal the discriminating duties on imports and tonnage, on condition that Mr. Hulbert and others, that all services rendered It was contended on the same hand, by Mr Eppes, reciprocal measures are adopted by foreign govern- by the militia in defence of any portion of the union ments, passed through a committee of the whole ought to be compensated, &c, and on the other, by without debate, and was reported to the house, and Mr. Forsyth, Mr. Calhoun, Mr. Sharp and others, was read a third time, passed by unanimous vote and that to appropriate money to pay the militia so called out by Massachusetts, would be to prostrate at returned to the senate. The bill from the senate authorising an appropri- the foot of the state government, one of the vital soation for completing the public buildings at West-vereign powers of the general government without Point for the military academy, being before a com- which it has in fact no sovereignty or vitality. mittee of the the whole. After some time the committee rose and reported well be conceived, could not be traversed during the The very broad ground opened by this bill, it may the bill, and it finally passed. The bill to alter the time for the next meeting of and the bill was laid over. short time allowed by the lateness of the session : congress was indefinitely postponed-an extra ses-enough, however, for each side to lay down its posiThe time was long sion, therefore, is not provided for. tain them. The whole field will doubtless be fought tions, and evince an obstinate determination to mainover at the next session. The bill to authorise the board of commissioners of the navy to appoint clerks, passed through a committee of the whole, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, and was accordingly read a third time and passed. The bill to provide for ascertaining and surveying the boundary limes fixed by the treaty with the Creek Indians, and for other purposes; the bill concerning the navy establishment; the bill for the relief of Charles Todd; the bill for the relief of the eastern branch bridge company, passed through committees of the whole, and were severally read a third time and passed. Mr. Troup, from the committee of conference, made report: whereupon, After much debate, the question was taken on a compromise fixing the number of men to compose the army at 10,000, and decided as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Alexander, Alston, Anderson, Avery, Barnett, Bines, Bowen, Calhoun, Clendenin, Clopton, Conistock, Crawford, Creighton, Culpeper, Cuthbert, Duvall, Eppes, Findley, Fisk, of Vt. Fisk of N. Y. Forsyth, Franklin, Gholson, Goodwyn, Gour din, Griffin, Grosvenor, Hall, Hawes, Hawkins, Hopkins of Ky. Hubbard, Humphreys, Jackson of Virg. Johnson of Ky. Kennedy, Kent of Md. Kerr, Kershaw, King of N. C. Lefferts, Lowndes, Lyle, M'Coy, Montgomery, Moore, Nelson. Newton, Pickens. Pi per, Pleasants, Rhea of Tenn. Rich, Ringold, Roane, Robertson, Sage, Seybert, Smith of Pen. Smith of Va, Strong, Stuart. Tan nehill, Taylor, Telfair, Troup, Wilson of Penn. Winter, Yancey, 70. NAYS-Messrs. Baylies of Mass. Bradbury, Brigham, Burwell, Caperton, Cannon, Cilley, Coxe, Davenport, Desha, Ely, Farrow, Gaston, Geddes, Harris, Hungerford, King of Mass. Lovett, Macon, Ormsby, Pearson, Pickering, Pitkin, John Reed, Ruggles. Schureman, Sharp, Sheff y, Sherwood, Stanford, Stockton, Stur ges, Taggart, Vose, Ward, of Mass. White, Wilcox, Wilson of Mass.-38. The house agreed that the reduction should take place on the 1st May instead of 1st April. The house also agreed by the following vote, to strike out the donation of land to disbanded officers and soldiers: which they were to recede from 15,000 to 10,000 15 8 Intelligencer observe- After 11 o'clock last night, the two houses of condays, but particularly on yesterday, gone through a gress separated, after having within the last ten prevailed during the latter days of the session, and great mass of public business. Much harmony has many measures have passed through the prevalenco have been been rejected. A list of the acts, includof a spirit of concession, which would otherwise ing every one, we believe, that has been passed, will be found in another part of the paper. Relations with Algiers. SKETCH OF SECRET PROCEEDINGS. To the senate and house of representatives of the U- from the consul general of the United States at AlCongress will have seen, by the communication the hostile proceedings of the Dey against that giers, laid before them on the 17th November, 1812, functionary. These have been followed by acts of more overt and direct warfare against the citizens of the United States trading in the Mediterranean, some of whom are still detained in captivity, notThe evening sitting, (says the National Intelligen-to ransom them, and are treated with the rigor usual withstanding the attempts which have been made cer) of congress on Friday evening was principally on the coast of Barbary. occupied in both houses in debate, until the moment For striking it out And the house adjourned to 7 o'clock. 57 The considerations which rendered it unnecessary of adjournment. In the house of representatives and unimportant to commence hostile operations on particularly, one of those topics on which public the part of the United States, being now terminated sensibility has for two years been greatly excited, by the peace with Great Britain, which opens the and which, at all times, is of the highest moment to prospect of an active and valuable trade of their the nation, whose existence almost during war is in-citizens within the range of the Algerine cruizers, volved in it-we mean the question of the relative I recommend to congress the expediency of an act powers of the general and state governments in re-declaring the existence of a state of war between the gard to the militia-became the subject of debate. United States and the Dey of Algiers; and of such It had been introduced on the preceding day by the provisions as may be requisite for a vigorous probill from the senate providing for the settlement of secution of it to a successful issue. claims for certain services of militia, which embrac-1 ed the militia employed by the governor of Massachusetts on his own authority, after he had refused to call them out under the requisition of the United Washington, Feb. 23, 1815. JAMES MADISON. mittee of foreign relations. Friday, Feb. 24.-The house being again in secret Fession Thursday, March 2.-The bill was returned from The injunction of secrecy was removed. Mr. Forsyth, from the committee of foreign rela-ment. And tions, to whom was referred the message yesterday received from the resident of the United States, 1 reported a bill for the protection of the commerce and seamen of the United States against the Algerine cruizers; which was twice read. Mr. Gaston moved to recommit the bill to the committee on foreign relations, with instructions to enquire into and report in detail the facts upon which the measures contemplated by the bill, is predicated. Whereupon, Mr. Hall moved to postpone the bill indefinitely; which motion was decided in the negative by the following vote: For the postponement 21 108 United States, against Algerine cruizers. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representa- Mr. Hall then moved to strike out of Mr. Gas-lantic ocean, the Mediterranean and adjoining seas. ion's amendment the words "the committee of foreign relations," and insert in lieu thereof the words "a select committee."-Agreed to. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the president of the United States to instruct the commanders of the respective public vesMr. Hawkins then moved to postpone the further sels aforesaid, to subdue, seize and make prize of all consideration of the subject to Monday next.-Ne-vessels, goods and effects of or belonging to the dey gatived. The question on Mr. Gaston's motion as amended was then taken by yeas and nays, which stood as follows: For the motion 79 42 So the bill was referred to a select committee. Messrs. Gaston, Forsyth, Ward of Mass. nor, Seybert, M'Kim and Newton. Tuesday, Feb. 28-Mr. Gaston, from the select committee to whom the above bill was referred, delivered in a detailed report on the subject, which was read. The bill having been amended by prefixing a pre amble of Algiers, or to his subjects, and to bring or send Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That on the apthe United States, the president of the United States Grosve-plication of the owners of private armed vessels of may grant them special commissions in the form which he shall direct under the seal of the United commissioned, shall have the like authority for subStates; and such private armed vessels, when so duing, seizing, taking and bringing into port any Algerine vessel, goods or effects, as the beforemenA motion was made by Mr. Goldsborough to tioned public armed vessels may by law have; and amend the bill in the second section by inserting, shall therein be subject to the instructions which after the word "aforesaid" in the 4th line, "if the may be given by the president of the United States dey of Algiers shall not on demand by an accredited for the regulation of their conduct; and their comagent of the United States duly authorised for that missions shall be revocable at his pleasure: Provipurpose deliver up without delay all American ci-de, That before any commission shall be granted as tizens who may be detained by him as prisoners or slaves, and return to a state of amity with the United States by a treaty of peace." And the question on this motion was decided in the negative by the following vote: For the amendment 47 Mr. Stanford moved to amend the bill so as to admit of prizes being brought into ports of the United States only; which motion was negatived. The question on ordering the bill to be engrossed, was decided by the following vote: aforesaid, the owner or owners of the vessel for which the same may be requested and the commander thereof for the time being, shall give bond to ties, not interested in such vessels, in the penal the United States, with at least two responsible suresum of seven thousand dollars, or if such vessel be provided with more than one hundred and fifty men, in the penal sum of fourteen thousand dollars, with United States, and the instructions which may be condition for observing the treaties and laws of the given as aforesaid, and also for satisfying all damages and injuries which shall be done contrary to the YEAS-Messrs. Alexander, Anderson, Barbour, Baylies, of Mas. tenor thereof, by such commissioned vessel, and for Bines, Bowen, Bradbury, Burwell, Calhoun, Canton, Champion, the delivering up the commission when revoked by Clopton, Condit, Coxe, Creighton, Culpeper, Cuthbert, Desha, Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That any AlgeDuval, Eppes, Farrow, Findley, Fisk, of Vt. Fisk of N. Y. Forsythe, the president of the United States. Franklin, Gaston, Gholson, Goodwin, Gourdin, Grosvenor, Hale, Hall, Harris, Hasbrouck, Hawes, Hawkins, Hopkins, of Kerine vessel, goods or effects, which may be so capHubbard, Humphreys, Hung rford, Holbert, Irwin, Jackson, of Va. Johnson, of Ky. Kennedy, Kent, of N. Y. Kent, of Md. Kerr, turd and brought into port, by any private armed vesKershaw, Kilbourn, King, of N. C. Lefferts, Lowndes, Macon, sel of the U. States, duly commissioned as aforesaid, McCoy, Montgomery, Moore, Nelson, Newton, Oakley Ormsby, Pickens, Pleasants, Potter, J. Reed, W. Reed, Rra, of Pen. Rhea may be adjudged good prize, and thereupon shait of Tee. Rich, Ringgold, Roane, Robertson, Ruggies, Sage, Schure accrue to the owners, and officers, and men of the man, Sevier, Seybert, Sharp, Sheffey, Sherwood, Smith of N. Y capturing vessel, and shall be distributed according Smith, of Va. Stockton, Stuart, Tannehill, Taylor. Telfair, Troup, to the agreement which shall have been made beUdree, Ward, of Mass. Wilson, of Pen. Winter, Yancey.-94. NAYS-Messrs. Bard, Bigelow, Brigham, Brown, Caperton, tween them, or, in failure of such agreement, acCilley, Comstock, Crouch, Davenport, Davis, of Penn. Ely, Goldszance of the capture. borough, Henderson, King, of Mass. Law, Lovett, Pearson, Pick-cording to the discretion of the court having cogui ering, Piner, Pitkin Slaymaker, Smith, of Pen. Stanford, Strong, And the bill having been engrossed, was read a From the National Intelligencer of March 7. THE ALGERINE WAR. It is probable that many of our readers may not bear in mind the facts on which the recent declaration of war against Algiers is pre |