Part 251

WEDNESDAY, March 3.

Navy Yards.

On motion of Mr. REED,

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy be, and he is hereby, directed to report to this House, at the next session of Congress, a statement of the number of Navy Yards belonging to, and occupied for the use of the United States; the accommodations provided in each, with the number of officers and men attached to each, with their rank and pay; also, the quantity and species of timber provided in each. Also, a statement of the expenditures made in each yard during the years 1811 and 1812; the number of vessels required during that time, with the species, quantity, and cost of repairs on each vessel, and the manner in which such repairs have been made, whether by contract or otherwise, and the terms. Also, the amount of timber provided under the law making an annual appropriation of two hundred thousand dollars, with a statement of the contracts made under said act, and the terms thereof: Also, the number of officers in the naval service of the United States, their rank, pay, and employ.

Encouragement to Privateers.

The bill allowing a bounty to privateers was passed through a Committee of the Whole, and ordered to lie on the table, under the impression that it could not be acted on at the present session.

EVENING SITTING, 5 o'clock.

Thanks to the Speaker.

On motion of Mr. SAWYER,

Resolved unanimously, That the thanks of this House be presented to HENRY CLAY, in testimony of their approbation of his conduct in the discharge of the arduous duties assigned him while in the Chair.

Whereupon, the Hon. SPEAKER rose and made the following observations:

"I thank you, gentlemen, for the testimony you have just so kindly delivered in approbation of my conduct in the Chair. Amidst the momentous subjects of deliberation which undoubtedly distinguish the 12th Congress as the most memorable in the annals of America, it has been a source of animating consolation to me, that I have never failed to experience the liberal support of gentlemen in all quarters of the House. If in the moment of ardent debate, when all have been struggling to maintain the best interests of our beloved country as they have appeared to us respectively, causes of irritation have occurred, let us consign them to oblivion, and let us in the painful separation which is about to ensue, perhaps forever, cherish and cultivate a recollection only of the many agreeable hours we have spent together. Allow me, gentlemen, to express the fervent wish that one and all of you may enjoy all possible individual happiness, and that in the return to your several homes you may have pleasant journeys."

Closing Business.

On motion of Mr. DAWSON, a committee was appointed, jointly with a committee to be appointed by the Senate, to wait upon the President of the United States, and inform him that the two Houses are now ready to adjourn, and desire to know whether he has any further communication to make to them during the present session.

Messrs. DAWSON and GROSVENOR were appointed the committee on the part of the House.

The Senate agree to the resolution for the appointment of a joint committee to wait on the President of the United States, and notify him of the proposed recess of Congress, and have appointed a committee on their part.

For some time a quorum was not present.

Bills from the Senate were waiting. A call of the House was had, and it appeared that sixty-four members only were present.

After receiving from the President all the bills which had passed, and being informed by the committee that he had no further communications to make, the House adjourned sine die.

FOOTNOTES:

Chief Justice Marshall.

This debate, although arising on a subject which implied a limited discussion, soon passed beyond its apparent bounds, and instead of being confined to the simple military question of raising additional troops, expanded into a discussion of the whole policy, objects and causes of the war, and became the principal debate of the session. All the leading members of the House took part in it; and many new members, then young, and whose names have since become famous, then took their start.

The Chairman had risen to put the question, which would have cut Mr. C. off from the chance of speaking, by returning the bill to the House.

The well-known political writer, William Cobbett, publishing a gazette under the name of Peter Porcupine.

Mr. Barlow's journey to Wilna, where he only arrived to die.

The following is the act as passed:

Be it enacted, &c., That in all, and every case, wherein, during the present war between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, any violations of the laws and usages of war among civilized nations, shall be or have been done and perpetrated by those acting under authority of the British Government, on any of the citizens of the United States, or persons in the land or naval services of the United States, the President of the United States is hereby authorized to cause full and ample retaliation to be made, according to the laws and usages of war among civilized nations, for all and every such violation as aforesaid.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That, in all cases where any outrage or act of cruelty or barbarity shall be or has been practised by any Indian or Indians, in alliance with the British Government, or in connection with those acting under the authority of the said Government, on citizens of the United States or those under its protection, the President of the United States is hereby authorized to cause full and ample retaliation to be done and executed on such British subjects, soldiers, seamen, or marines, or Indians, in alliance or connection with Great Britain, being prisoners of war, as if the same outrage or act of cruelty or barbarity had been done under the authority of the British Government.