Those who voted in the negative are— Mr. Amos Abbott John Quincy Adams Jacob Brinkerhoff Armistead Burt George Alfred Caldwell Levi D. Carpenter Alvan Cullom Stephen A. Douglass Mr. George C. Dromgoole John Jameson William C. McCauslen Moses Norris, jr. Mr. Robert Dale Owen William Parmenter. David S. Reid James H. Relfe John Ritter Orville Robinson The question was again put on the motion of Mr. Phoenix that the rules be suspended, and that the House resolve itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; upon which question no quorum voted. And then, on motion of Mr. Cobb, the House, at twenty minutes after 2 o'clock, adjourned until to-morrow, at 12 o'clock meridian. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1844. The following petitions and memorials were laid on the Clerk's table, under the 24th rule of the House, viz: By Mr. Hopkins: The petition of Ann E. Bronaugh, of the State of Virginia-heretofore presented February 4, 1839; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. Hubard: The petition of the heirs of Captain William Evans, late of Buckingham county, in the State of Virginia-heretofore presented December 18, 1843. By Mr. Tibbatts: A petition of Enoch Dobyns, of Mason county, in the State of Kentucky, for a pension. By Mr. Dunlap: The petition of Samuel T. Winslow, of Cumberland county, in the State of Maine-heretofore presented March, 1844. By Mr. Blackwell: The petition of James S. Hall, of Roane county, in the State of Tennessee-heretofore presented February 3, 1844. By Mr. Lucas: The petition of George Reily, of the State of Virginiaheretofore presented January 4, 1841. By Mr. Herrick: The petition of David Towle, of Cumberland county, in the State of Maine-heretofore presented April 15, 1844. Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Sample: A petition of Alanson Phinney, of Porter county, in the State of Indiana, for a patent to be issued to him for a tract of land: which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands. By Mr. Marsh: The petition of Henry Gardiner, of the State of Massachusetts-heretofore presented December 12, 1837: which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. Levy: The petition of John H. McIntosh, of the Territory of Florida, heretofore presented January 3, 1837: which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. By Mr. Robert Smith: The petition of Robert Seybold, of Madison county, in the State of Illinois-heretofore presented February 1, 1836: which was referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims. By Mr. John P. Kennedy: The memorial of William Howell & Sonheretofore presented January 31, 1843. By Mr. Daniel P. King: The petition of Benj. B. Swasey, of Marblehead, in the State of Massachusetts-heretofore presented December 14, 1842. By Mr. Wentworth: The petition of citizens of Chicago, in the State of Illinois-heretofore presented May 27, 1844. Ordered, That said petitions and memorial be referred to the Committee on Commerce. By Mr. Dawson: A petition of inhabitants of Point Coupee, in the State of Louisiana, for a post-road from Merganza to Opelousas. By Mr. Jeremiah E. Cary: A petition of George White and others, for the establishment of a mail-route from Westfield, in the county of Otsego, and State of New York, to Milford, in said county. Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. Leonard: A petition of R. H. Durham & Co., of the city of New York, praying Congress to give them a contract for the building of an iron steam-frigate for the United States. By Mr. Cave Johnson: A memorial of James Montgomery, of Memphis, in the State of Tennessee, asking the government to contract with him for the construction of a steam-vessel upon new principles. Ordered, That said petition and memorial be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. By Mr. Andrew Stewart: The petition of William Gump, of Greene county, in the State of Pennsylvania-heretofore presented April 3, 1844; which was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Collamer: The petition of Joseph Edson, of Orange county, in the State of Vermont-heretofore presented December 17, 1842: which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. Lucas: The petition of Carter B. Chandler, of Frederick county, in the State of Virginia-heretofore presented January 3, 1844. By Mr. Chilton: A memorial of George J. Green, of the State of Virginia, to be reinstated on the pension roll. By Mr. Collamer: The petition of Daniel Clapp and Betsy Clapp, of Windsor county, in the State of Vermont-heretofore presented January 31. 1843. By Mr. Simons: The petition of Edmund Leavenworth, of New Haven county, in the State of Connecticut-heretofore presented December 20, 1838. Ordered, That said petitions and memorial be referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions. By Mr. Thompson: The petition of Joseph de la Francia, of the State of Louisiana-heretofore presented December 15, 1843. By Mr. Lucas: The petition of John Munroe, of Warren county, in the State of Virginia-heretofore presented January 18, 1842 By Mr. Robert Smith: The petition of Peter Shaffer, of Nashville, in the State of Illinois-heretofore presented May 14, 1844. By Mr. Wentworth: The petition of citizens of Kendall county, in the State of Illinois-heretofore presented February 17, 1844. Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee of Claims. By Mr. Boyd. The petition of the heirs of John Townes, of the State of Kentucky-heretofore presented December 9, 1834. By Mr. McDowell: A petition of William Cherry's heirs, for a pension. By Mr. Andrew Stewart: The petition of Lucretia Haymaker, heir-atlaw of John Bowen, deceased-heretofore presented January 25, 1842; Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims. Mr. Wentworth gave notice of a motion for leave to introduce a bill for the construction of a marine hospital at the city of Chicago, provided the funds for the same can be raised from the sale of portions of the military reservation in said city. On motion of Mr. Peyton, Resolved, That the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions be instructed to inquire into the expediency of amending the pension law of 1832, so as to extend its benefits to the officers and soldiers of the revolutionary war who served less than six months; and of so amending the pension law of 1836, as to include the widows of revolutionary officers and soldiers who married after 1796. On motion of Mr. Tibbatts, Resolvd, That the Committee of Claims be instructed to inquire into the propriety of paying Samuel Perry the amount deducted from a freight bill, under a contract with McClure and Company, for transportation of Indian stores, and an additional amount claimed for detention and the expenses incurred thereby. On motion of Mr. Vinton, the rules of the House were suspended for the purpose of enabling the Speaker to call the States for resolutions. Mr. Hannibal Hamlin moved the following resolution, and also moved the previous question thereon; which resolution was laid upon the table one day: Resolved, That ten thousand copies of the report of the select committee, and a like number of the report of the minority of the committee, on the memorial of sundry members of the legislature of Rhode Island, be printed for the use of the House. Mr. Simons, from the Committee on Engraving, reported the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That 11,335 copies of the draught representing the contem plated navy-yard at Memphis, Tennessee, to accompany document No. 2, be furnished. Mr. Hale moved the following resolution; and, debate arising thereon, it was laid upon the table one day, under the rule: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy be requested to inform the House what contracts, if any, have been made by his department since the 1st day of January, A. D. 1840, for furnishing pine timber or lumber to any navy-yards; and if so, to what yards; in what papers, if any, were the proposals advertised; with whom the contracts were made; how much timber or lumber has been furnished under said contracts; what prices have been paid therefor; and how much more has been paid under said contract, for said timber or lumber, than was paid for the same articles before the contract was entered into. Mr. Hale gave notice of a motion for leave to introduce a bill abolishing the office of Commissioner of Public Buildings. Mr. Winthrop moved the following resolution; and debate arising thereon, it was laid upon the table one day, under the rule, viz: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to communicate to this House copies of all instructions issued by him in reference to the collection of duties on wines, coffee, or other articles of import, since the 1st day of June last. Mr. Reding moved the following resolution; and debate arising thereon, it was laid upon the table one day, under the rule, to wit: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to report to this House how much money was paid each year by the late Bank of the United States, and its immediate successor, the United States Bank of Pennsylvania, to members of Congress, editors of newspapers, bank attorneys, and other persons employed by said banks in this and other countries, giving the name of each person to whom payment was made as aforesaid, and the amount paid to each; and, also, that he report the amount loaned by said banks each year to members of Congress, bank attorneys, editors of newspapers, and officers, agents, or other persons in the employment of said banks, giving the names of such persons, and the amount to each respectively; also, the amount paid for printing, and to whom paid. On motion of Mr. Catlin, Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be, and they are hereby, instructed to inquire into the expediency of making an appropriation to continue the improvements in the harbor of Norwich and Thames river, in Connecticut. On motion of Mr. Daniel P. King, Resolved, That the Committee of Ways and Means be instructed to report a bill making appropriation for the payment of the pensions due to the widows of revolutionary soldiers, agreeably to the act of June 17, 1844. Mr. Fish gave notice of a motion for leave to introduce a bill to authorize the sale of the site of Fort Gansevoort, in the city of New York, and the purchase of certain lands on Staten island, used for the defence of the harbor of New York. On motion of Mr. Rathbun, Resolved, That the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions be instructed to inquire into the expediency of granting a pension to Mercy Hoar. Mr. Hungerford moved the following resolution, which was read: Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be directed to report separate bills for every distinct appropriation proposed to be made. Mr. Winthrop moved that the said resolution be amended by striking out the words "be directed to report," and insert in lieu thereof the words "inquire into the expediency of reporting," which motion was agreed to; and The question being put, Will the House agree to the said resolution as amended? It was decided in the affirmative. Mr. Paterson moved the following resolution; which was read, and disagreed to by the House, to wit: Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire of the Secretary of War if it be not expedient to construct a fortification at or near the mouth of Genesee river, upon lake Ontario. Mr. David L. Seymour moved the following resolution; which was read, and laid upon the table one day, under the rule: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to furnish this House with a statement showing the quantity of "coarse wool" unmanufactured, the value whereof at the last port or place whence exported to the United States is seven cents or under per pound, which has been imported into the United States and paid duties since the present tariff went into operation. On motion of Mr. Strong, Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire into the expediency of making an appropriation for the preservation and improvement of the inlet at Port Jefferson bay, in the State of New York. Mr. Pratt offered the following preamble and resolution, to wit : Whereas, from the great difficulty in ascertaining, even after a view of the models or draughts now in the possession of the Patent Office, for what inventions patents have issued, much time and labor, and often heavy expenses, are incurred by persons in different sections of the United States in perfecting what they conceive to be inventions originating with themselves, but which, to their mortification, and often great pecuniary loss, they find, upon application at the Patent Office, to have been already secured by other persons-thus rendering their long, and frequently expensive labors, not only nugatory, but absolutely discouraging to future attempts to render service to the community, and reflect honor on our country: and whereas large sums are annually paid into the Patent Office for patents, (the investments whereof, after deducting necessary expenses, amount annually to about $10,000,) which surplus could be advantageously applied to the benefit of the numerous class of citizens whose genius leads them to the discovery of new and useful inventions, and to whose benefit it seems reasonable that some portion of the advantage received by the public should revert: Therefore, Resolved, That the Committee on Patents be, and they are hereby, directed to inquire into the expediency of making the necessary appropriation, out of the patent fund, to purchase an ample collection of scientific and other necessary books, to provide for the publication and distribution of the descriptions and drawings of the inventions for which patents have been granted; also, what other provisions are necessary to give greater efficiency to the office, and a more perfect arrangement of the models and |