Thursday, November 8.
Several other members, to wit: from New Hampshire, Samuel Hunt; from Massachusetts, Samuel Taggart; from Connecticut, Simeon Baldwin and Calvin Goddard; and from North Carolina, Samuel D. Purviance, appeared, and took their seats in the House.
A Message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Burwell, his Secretary, as follows:
Mr. Speaker: I am directed to hand you a communication, in writing, from the President to the two Houses of Congress.
The communication was read, and, together with the documents accompanying the same, referred to the Committee of the whole House on the state of the Union. [See Senate proceedings of this date, page 164, for the Message.]
Sword to Decatur.
Mr. J. Clay moved the following resolution:
Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to present, in the name of Congress, to Captain Stephen Decatur, a sword, of the value of —— dollars, and to each of the officers and crew of the United States ketch Intrepid, —— months’ pay, as a testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of the gallantry, good conduct, and services, of Captain Decatur, the officers, and crew, of the said ketch, in attacking and destroying a Tripolitan frigate, of forty-four guns, late the United States frigate Philadelphia.
Ordered, That the said motion be referred to a Committee of the Whole to-morrow.