On motion of Mr. Breck, Ordered, That the petition of John King, heretofore presented on the 10th of February, 1825, be referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Talliaferro presented a memorial of William Brent, jun. of Stafford county, in the state of Virginia, praying that the Constitution of the United States may be so amended, as that the choice of Electors of President and Vice President of the United States shall, in certain cases, be made by the people. Referred to the committee of

the whole House on the state of the Union.

Mr. Call, of Indiana, presented a petition of Benjamin Freeland, of that state, praying permission to relinquish three quarter sections of land, purchased, through mistake, at the public sales, and that he may be authorized to enter the same quantity on any vacant lands belonging to the United States.

Mr. Cook presented a petition of William Biggs, an officer in the regiment commanded by General George Rogers Clarke, against the Indians, in the Revolutionary war, praying compensation for military services rendered, during a course of forty years, on the frontiers, as, also, for a grant of the land to which he is entitled, by reason of services rendered as an officer under said Clarke.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on the Public Lands,

Ordered, That leave be given to withdraw the petitions and documents of Richard G. Morris, John B. Dorsey, and Samuel Douthet, heretofore presented to the House of Representatives.

The Speaker laid before the House the following communications,

viz:

I. A letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting a statement, shewing the expenditure of the money appropriated for the contingent expenses of the military establishment, for the year 1824. The said letter was read, and laid upon the table.

II. A letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting a statement of the assessment valuation of property on the Niagara frontier of the United States, as required by a resolution of this House of the 5th instant: which were read, and laid upon the table.

III. A letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting a statement of the amount paid as indemnity to the claimants of property destroyed, during the late war with Great Britain, in virtue of the act of the 9th of April, 1816; and a letter from the Third Auditor, relative to the amount now claimed, for property destroyed during the said war; rendered in obedience to the resolution of the 5th instant; which were read, and laid upon the table.

IV. A letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting a copy of a letter from Major Perrin Willis, relative to the value of property destroyed on the Niagara frontier, during the late war with Great Britain, and subsequently paid for by the United States; transmitted in obedience to the resolution of the 5th instant; which were read, and laid upon the table.

Mr. McLane, of Delaware, from the Committee of Ways and Means, made a report on the petition of Noah Webster, accompanied by a bill authorizing said Webster to import into the United State

his work upon languages, at a rate of duty therein specified; which bill was read the first and second time, and committed to a committee of the whole House to-morrow.

Mr. Williams, of North Carolina, from the Committee of Claims, made an unfavorable report on the petition of Elijah Boyd; which was laid upon the table.

Mr. Whittlesey, from the same committee, made an unfavorable. report on the memorial of D. Canter; which was laid upon the table. Mr. Forsyth, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, made an unfavorable report on the petition of Elizabeth Vail, administratrix on the estate of Aaron Vail, deceased; which was laid upon the table. On motion of Mr. Gurley,

Resolved, That the Committee on Roads and Canals be instructed to inquire into the expediency of cutting a canal from Lake Ponchartrain to communicate with the Mississippi, at or near the city of New Orleans.

On motion of Mr. Taylor,

Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to examine and report to this House whether any, and, if any, what, further legislative provision is necessary for the impartial administration of justice in the territorial governments of the United States.

On motion of Mr. Richard, Delegate from Michigan.

Resolved, That the Select Committee to whom was referred the petition of the trustees of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum of Kentucky be instructed to inquire into the expediency of extending the aid of the National Legislature to the Asylum for the tuition of the Deaf and Dumb, established in the cities of New York, Philadelphia, and Detroit; and report by bill or otherwise.

Mr. Vance, of Ohio, laid the following resolution on the table for consideration to-morrow:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be requested to furnish this House with a statement showing what portion of the money paid in virtue of the act of the 9th of April, 1816, and the subsequent acts amendatory thereof, and what moneys were paid under the 9th section of the said act, and of that portion, what part was paid to the claimants on the Niagara frontier; and, also, designating on what species of claims the residue of said money has been paid.

Ordered, That the committee of the whole to which is committed the report of the Committee of Claims, made at the last session on the petition of Lemuel Wootten, be discharged from the further consideration thereof, and that it be recommitted to the Committee of Claims.

Ordered, That the Committee on Commerce be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of J. A. Blackwell and others, and that it be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

Ordered, That the third reading of the engrossed bill further to amend the act authorizing payment for property lost, captured, or destroyed while in the military service of the United States, and for other purposes, passed the 9th of April, 1816, be postponed until Monday, the 17th day of the present month.

A message, in writing, was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Mosher, as follows:

To the House of Representatives of the United States:

I should hasten to communicate to you the documents called for, by the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 4th instant, relating to the conduct of the officers of the navy of the United States, on the Pacific Ocean, and of other public agents in South America, if such a communication might now be made consistently with the public interest. or with justice to the parties concerned. In consequence of several charges which have been alleged against Commodore Stewart, touching his conduct while commanding the squadron of the United States, on that sea. it has been deemed proper to suspend him from duty, and to subject him to trial on these charges. It appearing, also, that some of those charges have been communicated to the Department by Mr. Prevost, political agent, at this time, of the United States at Peru, and heretofore at Buenos Ayres and Chili. and apparently with his sanction, and that charges have likewise been made against him, by citizens of the United States engaged in commerce in that quarter, it has been thought equally just and proper that he should attend here, as well to furnish the evidence in his possession, applicable to the charges exhibited against Com. Stewart, as to answer such as have been exhibited against himself. In this stage, the publication of those documents might tend to exite prejudices, which might operate to the injury of both. It is important that the public servants, in every station, should perform their duty with fidelity, according to the injunctions of the law, and the orders of the Executive in fulfilment thereof. It is peculiarly so that this should be done by the commanders of our squadrons, especially on distant seas, and by political agents, who represent the United States with foreign powers, for reasons that are obvious in both instances. It is due to their rights and to the character of the Government, that they be not censured without just cause, which cannot be ascertained, until, on a view of the charges, they are heard in their defence, and after a thorough and impartial investigation of their conduct. Under these circumstances, it is thought that a communication at this time, of those documents, would not comport with the public interest, nor with what is due to the parties concerned.

Washington, January 10th, 1825.

JAMES MONROE.

The House again resolved itself in a Committee of the whole House on the bill more effectually to provide for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States, and for other purposes; and, after some time spent therein, the Speaker resumed the chair and Mr. Condict reported the same with amendments.

And then the House adjourned.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1825.

Mr. Jenkins, from the Joint Committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined an enrolled bill, entitled "An act authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to adopt a new hydrometer for ascertaining the proof of liquors," and found the same to be truly enrolled; when

The Speaker signed the said bill.

Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, accompanied by an estimate of the appropriations proposed for the service of the year 1825; which were referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

The Speaker laid before the House a report of the Secretary of War on the petition of William Saltmarsh; which was read and laid upon

the table.

Mr. Crowninshield, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, who were instructed, on the 9th ult. to inquire into the expediency of providing an additional force, and other additional means, for the suppression of piracy, made a report, accompanied by a bill, providing additional means for the suppression of piracy; which bill was read the first and second time, and committed to the committee of the whole House on the state of the Union.

Ordered, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of William Ray, and that leave be given to withdraw the same.

Ordered, That the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of William Otis, and that it be referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Campbell, of Ohio, from the Committee on Private Land Claims, made unfavorable reports on the petitions of Cornelius Vermillion and Jane Pearcy; which were ordered to be laid upon the table.

Ordered, That the Committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Clairs be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of Bissel Phelps, and that it be referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions.

Mr. Van Rensselaer, from the Select Committee to which was referred the joint resolution reported at the last session upon the subject, reported a joint resolution to provide for the care and preservation of the Capitol and the Public Ground in the City of Washington; which was read the first and second time, and committed to a committee of the whole House to-morrow.

Mr. Brent, from the Committee appointed upon the subject, made a report in relation to the title of the Baron de Bastrop, to a tract of land in the state of Louisiana, accompanied by a bill confirming certain land claims, and authorizing the legal representatives of Bastrop to institute a suit, in certain cases. against the United States, and for other purposes: which bill was read the first and second time, and committed to the committee of the whole House to which is commit

ted the bill to authorize the legal representatives of the Marquis de Maison Rouge, and those claiming under him, to institute a suit against the United States, and for other purposes.

The resolution submitted by Mr. Vance, of Ohio, yesterday, was taken up, read, and agreed to by the House.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Cutts, their Secretary:

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill, entitled "An act for the relief of William R. Maddox and Gregory Ennis," in which they ask the concurrence of this House. And then he withdrow.

A motion was made by Mr. Ingham, that the message of the President of the United States, of the 6th inst. in relation to his accounts with the public, be referred to a Select Committee; when

A motion was made by Mr. Bartlett, that so much of said message as relates to a private claim, be referred to the Committee of Claims: The question on this motion being decided in the negative

Mr. Forsyth moved to amend the motion made by Mr. Ingham to refer to a Select Committee, by instructing the said committee "to receive from the President any evidence or explanation of his claims he may think proper to present, and report the same to this House."

Mr. Mangum moved that the said message be laid upon the table; which, being decided in the negative,

The question was put to agree to the instructions moved by Mr. Forsyth,

And passed in the affirmative.

The question was then put, Shall the said message be referred to a Select Committee with the instructions aforesaid?

And passed in the affirmative; and

Mr. Ingham, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Poinsett, Mr. F. Johnson, Mr. Hayden, Mr. Tomlinson, and Mr. Sloane, were appointed the said committee.

Ordered, That the Committee of Claims be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of Isabel Orsono de Valverde, and that it be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instructions to report thereon to this House.

And then the House adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1825.

Mr. Hemphill presented a memorial of Richard W. Meade, of the city of Philadelphia, detailing the circumstances under which he became a creditor of the Spanish nation to an immense amount, and praying, for the reasons therein set forth, that the amount may be paid him from the Treasury of the United States.

The Speaker laid before the House the following communications, viz:

I. A letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting the letters from Joseph M'Minn, late agent of Indian Affairs in the Cherokee nation, and other papers, called for by the resolution adopted by this House, on the 7th inst: which were ordered to lie upon the table.

II. A letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting a