Tuesday, December 2.
The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, accompanying a report of the Commissioners of the fund for navy pensions and half-pay, pursuant to the act for the better government of the Navy of the United States; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. Lee, from the committee appointed for that purpose, reported a bill for erecting a Mausoleum to George Washington, which was read twice and referred to a Committee of the Whole to-morrow.
The bill directs that the mausoleum shall be of marble, to be erected in the City of Washington, under the superintendence of the four Secretaries.
Trade with the Indians.
Mr. Claiborne stated that during the last session a committee was appointed to inquire into the state of the trade, authorized by law, with the Indian nations. That committee had reported unfavorably to the trade. But desirous of maturing with deliberation a new plan before the old one was supplanted, they had reported a bill for continuing the existing system for one year. The bill had passed the House of Representatives unanimously, but had been postponed by the Senate to this session.
For his own part, he was altogether unfavorable to the trade; for he believed that it answered no good purpose in relation to the Indians, while it was a loss to the United States.[59] It was, however, proper that some Legislative provision should be made immediately. The old law regulating the officers who had the superintendence of the trade, had expired, and they were of consequence under no legal control.
He, therefore, moved the appointment of a committee, to inquire into the expediency of carrying on any further trade on a capital furnished by the United States, to report by bill or otherwise; which motion being read a second time, was agreed to, and a committee of three appointed.