Those who voted in the negative are Mr. Archibald H. Arrington John B. Ashe Daniel M. Barringer James E Belser Edward J. Black Mr. Garrett Davis William H. Hammett On motion of Mr. Richard D. Davis, Mr. Joseph J. McDowell Joseph A. Woodward. Ordered, That the Committee of Claims be discharged from the con sideration of the petition of Margaret M. Chew; and that it be referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions. On motion of Mr. Boyd, leave was granted him to withdraw from the files of this House the papers of the heirs of Henry King, now in Committee of the Whole House, with bill No. 227, for the benefit of the legal representatives of Henry King, deceased. The following petitions and memorial were laid on the Clerk's table, under the 24th rule of the House, to wit: By Mr. Garrett Davis: A petition of John T. Ball, praying to be allowed the difference of pay between an extra clerk and a messenger, for services performed in the former capacity in the Clerk's office of the House of Rep resentatives of the United States: which was referred to the Committee on Accounts. By Mr. Richard D. Davis: A petition of citizens of Cleveland, in the State of Ohio, to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia: which was referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia. By Mr. Lyon: A petition of William Moody, of Jackson, in the State of Michigan, asking for an increase of pension. By Mr. Joseph A. Wright: A petition of Thomas Bronough, of Hendricks county, in the State of Indiana, a soldier in the late war with Great Britain, for a pension. Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Giddings: The petition of Hiram Humphreys, of St. Joseph's county, in the State of Michigan-heretofore presented January 28, 1837: which was referred to the Committee of Claims. By Mr. Grinnell: A petition of Mary Briggs, of Rochester, in the State of Massachusetts, widow of Arnold Briggs, for a pension. By Mr. Augustus A. Chapman: A petition of Phoebe Pack, of Cincinnati, in the State of Ohio, widow of William Pack, deceased, for a pen sion. Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions. By Mr. Herrick: Two petitions of citizens of Kennebunk, in the State of Maine, for the erection of a light-house at Kennebunk Port, in said State. By Mr. Hannibal Hamlin: A petition of the legislature of the State of Maine, for the erection of a light-house at Gilkey's harbor, in said State. By Mr. John Stewart: A petition of citizens of Lake county, in the State of Ohio, for an appropriation to improve Chagrin harbor. Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee on Com merce. By Mr. Collamer: A petition of citizens of Randolph, in the State of Vermont, against the annexation of Texas; Also, a petition of citizens of Chelsea, in said State, for a reduction of the rates of postage. Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union. By Mr. A. Stewart: A memorial of Thomas Gregg, of the State of Pennsylvania, submitting for the consideration of Congress his model for the construction of ball-proof vessels for the naval service: which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. By Mr. Maclay: A petition of citizens of the city of New York, for a reduction of the rates of postage and abolition of the franking privilege: which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. Hannibal Hamlin: A petition of citizens of Bangor, in the State of Maine, for a uniform system of postage: which was referred to the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union. By Mr. Abbott: The petition of the Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts Railroad Corporation-heretofore presented February 16, 1844: which was referred to the Committee on Commerce. On motion of Mr. John W. Davis, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; and, after some time spent therein, the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Hopkins reported that the committee having, according to order, had the state of the Union generally under consideration, particularly the joint resolution (No. 46) for annexing Texas to the United States, had come to no resolution thereon. A message was received from the President of the United States, by John Tyler, jr., his private secretary; which was read, as follows: To the House of Representatives: I herewith transmit to the House of Representatives, in reply to their resolution of the 14th of June last,* a report from the Secretary of State, with accompanying papers. JOHN TYLER. WASHINGTON, January 9, 1845. Ordered, That the said message be laid upon the table. Mr. Jenks, from the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, (by leave,) made a report upon the memorial of Alexander M. Cummings, accompanied by a joint resolution (No. 62) authorizing and directing the accounting officer of the Post Office Department to inquire into and examine, audit, and settle the claims of Alexander M. Cummings, late mail contractor: which resolution was read a first and second time, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House to morrow. Mr. Pratt, from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, (by leave,) reported a bill (No. 504) making an appropriation for furnishing, painting, and repairing the executive mansion: which was read a first and second time, and committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. And then, on motion of Mr. Preston King, the House, at twenty-one minutes after 3 o'clock, p. m., adjourned until to-morrow, at 12 o'clock meridian. SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 1845. On motion of Mr. Cave Johnson, the rules were suspended in order to enable him to submit a motion, that the Speaker proceed to call the committees for reports for one hour. Mr. Cave Johnson then submitted the said motion, and it was agreed to by the House. On motion of Mr. Dromgoole, Ordered, That the Committee of Ways and Means be discharged from the consideration of the petition of Alexander Hebert; and that it be laid upon the table. On motion of Mr. Norris, Ordered, That the Committee of Ways and Means be discharged from the consideration of the petition of citizens of Massachusetts for the com. pletion of the Sandy bay break water; and that it be referred to the Com mittee on Commerce. On motion of Mr. Weller, Ordered, That the Committee of Ways and Means be discharged from the consideration of the memorial of William Norris & Co.; and that it be laid on the table. Mr. Vance, from the Committee of Claims, to which was referred the bill from the Senate (No. 41) entitled "An act for the relief of William Rich," reported the same without amendment, and recommended that the said bill do not pass. *Calling for a copy of all the instructions to George W. Erving upon his appointment as minister plenipotentiary to Spain, in the year 1814, and afterwards during his mission to that court, which have not heretofore been made public. Ordered, That the said bill be committed to the Committee of the Whole House to-morrow. Mr. Vance, from the same committee, made adverse reports upon the petitions of Richard G. Dove and Martha Twist: which reports were laid upon the table. Mr. Thomasson, from the same committee, made adverse reports upon the petitions of S. Calvert Ford and of Jane Parker, widow of Southey Parker, deceased: which reports were laid upon the table. Mr. John W. Davis, from the Committee on Public Lands, reported a bill (No. 505) to change the boundary of the Red river land district, in the State of Arkansas: which bill was read a first and second time, and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time to-day. The said bill, being engrossed, was accordingly read the third time, and passed. Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in the said bill. Mr. Boyd, from the same committee, reported a bill (No. 506) authorizing the President of the United States to issue patents for lots sold in the town of Mineral Point, in the Territory of Wisconsin: which bill was read a first and second time, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow. On motion of Mr. Boyd, Ordered, That the Committee on Public Lands be discharged from the consideration of the resolutions of the legislature of Illinois, in relation to a change of the sixteenth sections of public lands set apart for the use of common schools; and that it be laid upon the table. Mr. Holmes, from the Committee on Commerce, reported a bill (No. 507) to authorize the importation free of duty of pipes and machinery to test the utility of atmospheric railroads: which bill was read a first and second time, and committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. Grinnell, from the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, reported a joint resolution (No. 63) authorizing the Postmaster General of the United States to contract with railroad companies in certain cases without advertising for proposals therefor: which resolution was read a first and second time, and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time to-day. The said resolution, being engrossed, was accordingly read the third time, and passed. Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith. On motion of Mr. Hopkins, Ordered, That the same committee be discharged from the consideration of the petition of John H. Pennington; and that the petitioner have leave to withdraw his petition. On motion of Mr. Brodhead, Ordered, That the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from the consideration of the petition of Harry Richardson; and that it be laid upon the table. Mr. Summers, from the Committee on the Judiciary, made a report upon the case of William Saunders and William R. Porter, sureties of William Estis, late paymaster of the 4th regiment of Virginia troops, stationed at Norfolk during the last war, accompanied by a bill (No. 508) for their re lief; which bill was read a first and second time, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow. Mr. James B. Hunt, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, made an adverse report upon the memorial of Econchattamico, an Indian chief; which was laid upon the table. Mr. Clinch, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported bills of the following titles, to wit: No. 509. A bill making appropriations for certain defensive works of the United States for the fiscal year beginning on the 1st day of July, 1845, and ending on the 30th of June, 1846; No. 510. A bill making an appropriation for the commencement of defensive works at or near the mouth of Genesee river, upon lake Ontario, for the fiscal year beginning on the 1st day of July, 1845, and ending on the 30th of June, 1846; accompanied by a report in each case: which bills were severally read a first and second time, and committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. Haralson, from the same committee, made a report upon the petition of John H. McIntosh, accompanied by a bill (No. 511) for his relief: which bill was read a first and second time, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow. Mr. Parmenter, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported a joint resolution (No. 64) concerning relative rank of certain officers in the navy of the United States: which resolution was read a first and second time; when, A motion was made by Mr. Cave Johnson to amend the said resolution, by adding thereto the following: "Provided, That such assimilated rank shall not in any case be construed to increase the pay of any officer." The said amendment was agreed to by the House; and the said resolution was ordered to be engrossed, and read a third time to-day. The said resolution, being engrossed, was accordingly read the third time, and passed. Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in the said resolution. Mr. Parmenter, from the same committee, reported the following resolution; which was read, and agreed to, to wit: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy be requested to report to this House what substitute (if any) can be made for the present mode of corporal punishment in the navy, without endangering the discipline of the service. Mr. Atkinson, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to which was referred the bill from the Senate (No. 12) entitled "An act to afford relief to certain contractors with the government, reported the same without amendment. Ordered, That the said bill be committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow. On motion of Mr. David L. Seymour, Ordered, That the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions be discharged from the consideration of the petitions of Robert C. Brent and Jeanette Taylor et al., representatives of John Paul Jones, and that they be referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims. |