Part 211

On motion of Mr. BASSETT, the House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, on the report of the Naval Committee on the proposed vote of a gold medal to Captain Isaac Hull, late commander of the frigate Constitution, and silver medals to the other officers, and a sum of ---- thousand dollars, to be distributed as prize-money among the officers and crew, as an expression of the sense entertained by this House of their bravery and conduct in attacking and vanquishing the British frigate Guerriere.

Mr. BASSETT spoke in support of the resolution. He stated the magnitude of the achievement; the amount of value of the capture; and assigned many reasons particularly in favor of the donation to the officers and crew, on whom collectively he proposed to bestow the sum of $100,000, and made a motion to that effect. He said the prize money arising from the capture, had not the public service required the destruction of the Guerriere, would have amounted to much more; and the merits of those concerned in the capture entitled them to this remuneration. He dilated on the present low price of wages on board our public ships, and adverted to the seaman's hardships and the seaman's risk, &c.

The question on filling up the blank with "one hundred thousand dollars," was then taken, and decided in the affirmative--50 to 37.

The committee rose and reported their agreement to the resolution.

FRIDAY, November 27.

A new member to wit, from Georgia, WILLIAM BARNETT, returned to serve as a member of this House, in the place of Howell Cobb, resigned, appeared, was qualified, and took his seat.

TUESDAY, December 1.

Naturalization Laws.

On motion of Mr. LACOCK, the House resumed the consideration of the bill supplementary to the naturalization laws.

On motion of Mr. LACOCK, the bill was amended by adding thereto the following additional section:

"And be it further enacted, That every naturalized citizen of the United States, or the Territories thereof, shall forfeit such citizenship on his voluntarily departing from and remaining out of the United States for and during the term of two years."

On motion of Mr. FITCH, the following other section was also incorporated in the bill:

"And be it further enacted, That all persons who shall have been naturalized subsequent to the 18th day of June last, shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of citizens of the United States, from the date of such naturalization, any thing in the declaration of war against Great Britain, or any other act, to the contrary notwithstanding."

Mr. FISK moved to strike out nine months, the time allowed to citizens to take the benefit of our naturalization laws, and insert three. He said he could not see why so long a time should be allowed. The longest time extended to our citizens in Canada is thirty days; and he did not see why so much more liberality should be extended to their citizens here. He was opposed to their remaining here longer than necessary, the more especially as they employed themselves in exciting divisions, and fomenting the party feuds which now agitate the country.

Mr. LACOCK thought the time proposed was too short; that in some districts they could scarcely hear of the law within that time, and at any rate might not be able to meet with a tribunal, at which to comply with the requisites of the naturalization law, before the expiration of that period.

Mr. FISK withdrew his motion for the present.

THURSDAY, December 3.

SHADRACK BOND, returned to serve as a delegate, in this House, for the Illinois Territory, appeared, was qualified, and took his seat.

SATURDAY, December 5.

Privateer Captures.

Mr. MCKIM presented a petition of Commodore Joshua Barney, on behalf of himself and the owners, officers, and crews, of sundry private armed vessels of war, "praying to be considered as claimants to all property proven to be enemy's property, found on board of vessels sailing under the American flag, having on board British manufactured goods, coming from Great Britain to the United States, and under the protection of British licenses, which have been captured by them, or that they may participate as 'informers' in the seizure and condemnation of the said property under the non-importation."--Referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

MONDAY, December 7.

Another member, to wit, from Virginia, EDWIN GRAY, appeared, and took his seat.

TUESDAY, December 8.

Another member, viz: from Virginia, WILLIAM A. BURWELL, appeared, and took his seat.

WEDNESDAY, December 9.

Imprisonment of American Seamen.

Mr. BASSETT offered to the House the following resolution: