by the belligerent Powers of Europe, by which our mercantile capital had suffered a loss of millions, and our national character was degraded. He considered this lamentable situation of our commerce to arise from the bounty, in the form of drawback, given by Government to encourage the carrying trade, by which our merchants were led into unnecessary conflicts with foreign nations. He therefore submitted the following motion; which was read and ordered to lie for consideration:

"That a committee be appointed to consider the propriety of repealing so much of any act as allows a drawback of duties on goods, wares, and merchandise, exported out of the United States, and that such committee be instructed to report by bill or otherwise."

The Senate took into consideration the motion made yesterday for the appointment of a committee to inquire into the expediency of allowing incorporated banks and insurance companies to take and sell ships and vessels without forfeiting the benefit of their registers, and that the said committee have leave to report by bill or otherwise;" and the motion was adopted; and Messrs. BAYARD, BRADLEY, and SMITH of Maryland, appointed the committee.

Mr. TRACY, from the committee to whom was recommitted the bill in addition to the act establishing a Mint, and regulating the coins of the United States, reported it without amendment, and the bill was considered and postponed.

FEBRUARY, 1807.

Whole, the second reading of the bill, entitled "An act authorizing the President of the United States to accept the service of a number of volunteer companies, not exceeding 30,000 men ;" and, on the question, Shall this bill be read a third time? it was determined in the affirmative.

Mr. WORTHINGTON, from the committee to whom was referred the bill, entitled "An act allowing an additional compensation to the judges of the Mississippi Territory, and extending the right of suffrage therein," reported amendments.

The Senate resumed the third reading of the bill, in addition to the act for establishing a Mint, and regulating the coins of the United States; and resolved that it pass.

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House have passed the bill sent from the Senate for concurrence, 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, in the year of our Lord 1808," with amendments, in which they request the concurrence of the Senate.

The amendments were read, and referred to Messrs. BRADLEY, GILES, and BALDWIN, to consider and report thereon.

MONDAY, February 16.

The VICE PRESIDENT being detained by the ill state of his health, the Senate adjourned soon after meeting.

TUESDAY, February 17.

The Senate took into consideration, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill, entitled "An act authorizing the President of the United States to accept the service of a number of volunteer companies, not exceeding 30,000 men," together with the report of the special committee thereon; and the President having reported the bill to the House without amendment, it was agreed that the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-ize the State of Tennessee to issue grants and

morrow.

On motion, it was agreed, that the consideration of the bill, entitled "An act repealing the acts laying duties on salt, and continuing in force for a further time the first section of the act, entitled 'An act further to protect the commerce and seamen of the United States against the Barbary Powers," be the order of the day for Monday next. The bill to regulate the summoning of grand jurors was read the third time, and passed.

FRIDAY, February 13.

Mr. ADAMS, from the committee to whom was referred the bill, entitled "An act further supplementary to the act, entitled 'An act concerning the District of Columbia," reported it without amendment. On the question, Shall this bill be read a third time? it was determined in the affirmative.

On motion, it was agreed, that the further consideration of the bill authorizing the sale and grant of a certain quantity of public land to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Company, be postponed until Monday next.

The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the

Mr. BRADLEY, from the committee appointed on the 17th December last, "to inquire what further proceeding is necessary to carry into effect the provisions of an act, entitled 'An act to author

perfect titles to certain lands therein described, and to settle the claims to the vacant and unappropriated lands within the same," made report; which was read, and ordered to lie for consideration.

The PRESIDENT communicated a letter from the honorable Mr. STONE, resigning his seat in the Senate; which was read.

Mr. LOGAN presented the memorial of Kinsey Johns and others, in behalf of the President and Directors of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Company, praying the aid of Congress in the prosecution of that undertaking, and referring to their former memorial on this subject; and the memorial was read, and ordered to lie for consideration.

Mr. BAYARD, from the committee appointed on the subject, reported a bill regulating the granting of registers in case of ships and vessels of the United States becoming the property of bank and insurance companies; which was read, and ordered to the second reading.

Mr. LOGAN, from the committee to whom was referred, on the 4th instant, the bill, entitled "An act to continue in force for a further time an act, entitled 'An act to suspend the commercial inter

course between the United States and certain parts of the island of St. Domingo," reported amendments; which were read, and ordered to lie for consideration.

Mr. BRADLEY, from the committee to whom were referred, on the 13th instant, the amendments of the House of Representatives to the bill, 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, in the year of our Lord 1808," made report: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the Senate agree to all the amendments to the said bill, except to the proviso added at the end of the eighth section, to which they disagree.

SENATE.

The bill, entitled "An act further supplementary to the act, entitled 'An act concerning the District of Columbia," was read the third time, and passed.

The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the second reading of the bill, entitled "An act repealing the acts laying duties on salt, and continuing in force, for a further time, the first section of the act, entitled 'An act further to protect the commerce and seamen of the United States against the Barbary Powers," together with the report of the special committee thereon; and, after debate, adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, February 18.

The credentials of the honorable JOHN SMITH, appointed a Senator of the United States for the State of New York, for the term of six years, commencing on the 4th day of March next, were presented and read.

Ordered, That they lie on file.

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House have passed a bill, entitled "An act to extend the time for locating Virginia military warrants, and for returning the surveys thereon to the office of the Secretary for the Department of War;" a bill, entitled "An act for the relief of Stephen Sayre;" a Mr. ADAMS, from the committee to whom was bill, entitled "An act respecting seizures made un-referred, on the 6th instant, the motion for a joint der the authority of the United States, and for other committee "to inquire whether the act passed purposes;" also, a bill, entitled "An act making April 18, 1806, has been duly enrolled," reported appropriations for finishing the south wing of the the motion amended. Capitol, and for other purposes;" in which bills they request the concurrence of the Senate. They have passed the bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act establishing circuit courts, and abridging the jurisdiction of the district courts in the districts of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio," with amendments, in which they request the concurrence of the Senate.

The four bills last brought up for concurrence were read, and ordered to the second reading.

Mr. GILES presented the petition of Sigismund Stribleing, a captain in the Virginia line of the late Continental army, stating that, through the mistake of the surveyor, he is deprived of a lot of land, disposed of in donations to the officers and soldiers in that line, and praying redress; and the petition was read, and ordered to lie for consideration.

The Senate proceeded to consider the amendments of the House of Representatives to the bill, entitled "An act establishing circuit courts, and abridging the jurisdiction of the district courts in the districts of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio;" and they were referred to Messrs. WORTHINGTON, CLAY, and TURNER, to consider and report

thereon.

The bill, entitled "An act authorizing the President of the United States to accept the service of a number of volunteer companies, not exceeding 30,000 men," was read the third time, and passed. Mr. CLAY presented the petition of Reni Naw, praying to be allowed the drawback on certain goods exported from the city of New York, for reasons mentioned in the petition; which was read, and referred to Messrs. LOGAN, BRADLEY, and ADAMS, the committee to whom was referred, on the 12th instant, the memorial of sundry merchants of the city of Philadelphia, on the subject of drawbacks, to consider and report thereon.

Ordered, That it lie for consideration.

The bill, entitled "An act to extend the time for locating Virginia military warrants and for returning the surveys thereon to the office of the Secretary of the Department of War," was read the second time, and referred to Messrs. WORTHINGTON, CONDIT, and MOORE, the committee appointed on the 16th January last, "to inquire into the expediency of altering so much of an act of March 3, 1803, as relates to the lands allowed for the support of schools in the Virginia Military Reservation in the State of Ohio," to consider and report thereon.

Ordered, That the petition of Sigismund Stribleing, presented yesterday, be referred to the same committee.

The bill, entitled "An act making appropriations for finishing the south wing of the Capitol, and for other purposes," was read the second time, and referred to Messrs. BAYARD, BRADLEY, and MILLEDGE, to consider and report thereon.

The bill, entitled "An act respecting seizures made under the authority of the United States, and for other purposes," was read the second time, and referred to Messrs. MrTCHILL, ADAMS, and SMITH, of Maryland, to consider and report thereon.

The bill, entitled "An act for the relief of Stephen Sayre," was read the second time, and referred to Messrs. BALDWIN, SUMTER, and TRACY, to consider and report thereon.

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House have passed a joint resolution to publish the report and chart of the survey of the coast of North Carolina, in which they ask the concurrence of the Senate. They insist on their amendment, disagreed to by the Senate, to the bill, 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 1st day of January, in the year of our Lord 1808," ask a conference thereon, and have appointed managers on their part.

The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the second reading of the bill, entitled "An act repealing the acts laying duties on salt, and continuing in force, for a further time, the first section of the act, entitled 'An act further to protect the commerce and seamen of the United States against the Barbary Powers," together with the report of the special committee thereon; and, after debate, the further consideration of this bill was postponed.

FEBRUARY, 1807.

of New York, Smith of Ohio, Smith of Tennessee, Smith of Vermont, Thruston, Tracy, and White.

NAYS-Messrs. Baldwin, Fenner, Gaillard, Hillhouse, Howland, Kitchel, Logan, Maclay, Milledge, Moore, Reed, Smith of Maryland, Sumter, Turner, and Worthington.

And the PRESIDENT reported to the House that the Committee of the Whole had agreed to sundry amendments; and, on motion, the further consideration of the bill was postponed.

The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the second reading of the bill authorizing the sale and grant of a certain quantity of public land to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal The Senate proceeded to consider the resolu- Company, and an amendment was submitted; tion of the House of Representatives, insisting on and the further consideration of the bill postponed. their ninth amendment to the bill, entitled "An The following Message was received from the act to prohibit the importation of slaves into any PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: port or place within the jurisdiction of the Uni-To the Senate and House of ted States, from and after the first day of January, in the year of our Lord 1808," and requesting a conference on the subject-matter of the said amendment: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the Senate do agree to the conference requested, and that Messrs. BRADLEY, GILES, and GAILLARD, be the managers at the same on their part.

The joint resolution to publish the report and chart of the survey of the coast of North Carolina, sent from the House of Representatives, was read, and ordered to the second reading.

THURSDAY, February 19.

The joint resolution, sent from the House of Representatives, to publish the report and chart of the survey of the coast of North Carolina, was read the second time, and referred to Messrs. BRADLEY, SUMTER, and GILES, to consider and report thereon.

Mr. WORTHINGTON, from the committee to whom was referred the bill, entitled "An act to extend the time of locating Virginia military warrants, and for returning the surveys thereon to the office of the Secretary for the Department of War," reported amendments; which were read, and ordered to lie for consideration.

The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the second reading of the bill, entitled "An act repealing the acts laying duties on salt, and continuing in force for a further time the first section of the act, entitled 'An act further to protect the commerce and seamen of the United States against the Barbary Powers," together with the report of the special committee thereon; which amendment is as follows:

Representatives of the United States:

I transmit to Congress a letter from our Ministers Plenipotentiary at London, informing us that they have agreed, with the British Commissioners, to conclude a treaty on all the points which had formed the object of their negotiation, and on terms which they trusted we would approve.

Also, a letter from our Minister Plenipotentiary at Paris, covering one to him from the Minister of Marine of that Government, assuring him that the Imperial decree lately passed was not to affect our commerce, which would still be governed by the rules of the treaty established between the two countries.

Also, a letter from Cowles Mead, Secretary of the Mississippi Territory, acting as Governor, informing us that Aaron Burr had surrendered himself to the civil

authority of that Territory.

FEBRUARY 19, 1807.

TH. JEFFERSON.

The Message and documents referred to were read, and 500 copies thereof ordered to be printed for the use of the Senate.

The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill, entitled "An act to continue in force for a further time an act, entitled 'An act to suspend the commercial intercourse between the United States and certain parts of the Island of St. Domingo," together with the amendments reported by the special committee; and the President having reported the bill amended, on motion, the further consideration thereof was postponed.

Mr. WORTHINGTON, from the committee to whom was referred the amendments of the House of Representatives to the bill, entitled "An act establishing circuit courts, and abridging the jurisdiction of the district courts of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio," reported that the Senate agree thereto. as.

"Section 1, line 2, strike out, after the word ' sembled,' the remainder of the first section, and the whole of the second section, and to the word 'that,' in the third section and first line."

And, on the question to agree to the said report, it was determined in the affirmative-yeas 17, nays 15, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Adams, Bayard, Bradley, Clay, Condit, Giles, Gilman, Mitchill, Pickering, Plumer, Smith

TENNESSEE LANDS.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the report of the committee, appointed on the 17th of December last, "to inquire what further proceeding is necessary to carry into effect the provisions of an act, entitled 'An act to authorize the State of Tennessee to issue grants and perfect titles to certain lands therein described, and to

settle the claims to the vacant and unappropriated lands within the same;" which report is as follows:

"That, in the absence of the honorable Joseph Anderson, one of the Senators from the State of Tennessee, who has not attended Congress during the present session, the committee proceeded to examine the act of the State of Tennessee, entitled 'An act to appoint agents to settle the dispute existing between this State and the United States, relative to the vacant and unappropriated lands within this State, and to procure the relinquishment of the claim of the United States to the same,' passed November 14, 1801, and find that in and by said act the State of Tennessee did authorize their Senators and Representatives, or their successors, or a majority of them, to procure from the United States a relinquishment of their claim to the lands in the State of Tennessee, in such manner, and upon such terms, as to the said agents might seem proper; and being fully satisfied that the powers vested in the Senator and Representatives from the State of Tennessee, signers of the hereinafter recited instrument, are ample and sufficient to carry into effect, on the part of the State of Tennessee, the provisions of the aforesaid acts of Congress, the committee have received from them the following instrument, signed and sealed by them, respectively, to wit:

'Be it remembered, That we, the undersigned, Senator and Representatives in the Congress of the United States, from the State of Tennessee, do hereby make known, that, in pursuance of the power in us vested, by an act of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, entitled 'An act to appoint agents to settle the dispute between this State and the United States, relative to the vacant and unappropriated lands within this State, and to procure the relinquishment of the claim of the United States to the same,' and by a resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Tennessee, passed in the year 1802, as instructions therein: We do, in consideration of the provisions made in the act of Congress, entitled 'An act to authorize the State of Tennessee to issue grants and perfect titles to certain lands therein described, and to settle the claims to the vacant and unappropriated lands within the same,' for and in behalf of the State

SENATE.

Mr. MITCHILL, from the committee to whom was referred, on the 18th instant, the bill from the House of Representatives, entitled "An act respecting seizures made under the authority of the United States, and for other purposes," reported the bill without amendment. On the question, Shall this bill be read a third time? it was determined in the affirmative.

The Senate proceeded to consider the report of the committee to whom were referred the amendments of the House of Representatives to the bill, entitled "An act establishing circuit courts, and abridging the jurisdiction of the district courts in the districts of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio." Whereupon, the Senate concurred in the said

amendments.

Mr. BAYARD, from the committee to whom was of Tennessee, agree and declare, that all right, title, and referred the bill, entitled "An act making approclaim, which the State of Tennessee hath to the lands priations for finishing the south wing of the Caplying west and south of the following line, to wit: be-itol, and for other purposes," reported amendments; ginning at the place where the eastern or main branch which were read and ordered to lie for consideraof Elk river shall intersect the seuthern boundary line tion. of the State of Tennessee; from thence, running due The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the north, until said line shall intersect the northern or Whole, the second reading of the bill from the main branch of Duck river; thence, down the waters House of Representatives, entitled "An act to of Duck river, to the military boundary line, as estab- continue in force for a further time an act, entitled lished by the seventh section of the act of North Caro-An act to suspend the commercial intercourse belina, entitled 'An act for the relief of the officers and soldiers of the Continental line, and for other purposes,' passed in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three; thence, with the military boundary line, west, to the place where it intersects the Tennessee river; thence, down the waters of the Tennessee river, to the place where the same intersects the northern boundary line of the State of Tennessee, shall hereafter forever cease; and the lands aforesaid, lying south and west of the line aforesaid, within the limits of the State of Tennessee, shall be and remain at the sole and entire disposition of the United States, and shall be exempted from every disposition or tax, made by order, or under the authority, of the State of Tennes

tween the United States and certain parts of the Island of St. Domingo," together with the report of the special committee thereon; and the President having reported the bill to the House amended, on the question, "Shall this bill be read a third time as amended ?" it was determined in the affirmative.

The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the report of the special committee on the bill sent from the House of Representatives, entitled "An act to extend the time for locating Virginia military warrants, and for returning the surveys thereon to the office of the Secretary for the