[This bill repeals the second and fourth sections of the act recited in the title, authorizes the President to keep in actual service in time of peace so many of the frigates and other public armed vessels, as in his judgment the nature of the service may require, and to cause the residue to be laid up in ordinary, in convenient ports—directs the public armed vessels in actual service in time of peace to be officered and manned as the President shall direct, provided that the officers shall not exceed thirteen captains, nine masters commandant, seventy-two lieutenants, and one hundred and fifty midshipmen, who are to receive no more than half their monthly pay while not under orders for actual service, and provided that the whole number of able seamen, ordinary seamen, and boys, shall not exceed nine hundred and twenty-five; the President being at liberty to appoint for the vessels in actual service, as many surgeons, surgeons’ mates, sailingmasters, chaplains, pursers, boatswains, gunners, sailmakers, and carpenters, as may in his opinion be necessary.]
Tuesday, January 14.
The House commenced their proceedings this morning, at eleven o’clock, in secret sitting, having yesterday adjourned while the doors continued closed, and while confidential business was depending.
The House continued sitting until three o’clock, when the doors were opened, and an adjournment ensued.
Friday, January 17.
Indiana Territory—Slavery.
A memorial and petitions of sundry inhabitants of the counties of Randolph and St. Clair, in the Indiana Territory, were presented to the House and read, suggesting the expediency of a division of the Indiana Territory, and the erection into a separate Territorial government of a part thereof; of the formation of a Western State; of the admission of slavery into the said Territory, either unconditional or under such restrictions as Congress may impose; and, also, praying redress against certain oppressive acts of the Executive authority of the said Territory.—Referred to the committee appointed, on the nineteenth ultimo, on a letter from William Henry Harrison, Governor of the Indiana Territory.
Monday, January 20.
Importation of Slaves.
The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on a motion of the tenth ultimo, “for imposing a tax or duty of ten dollars per head upon all slaves hereafter imported into any of the United States.”