843 HISTORY OF CONGRESS. 844 Hor R. tion of slavery, the relief of free negroes unlaw- fully held in bondage, and for improving the con- dition of the African race,” praying that further measures may be adopted for the protection of the rights of free negroes.—Referred to the com- mittee appointed on that part of the President’s ‘Message which relates to the African slave trade. ‘Mr. DanitnaTon presented a petition of sun- ary inhabitants of Pennsylvania, complaiving of the many and great impositions to which they are subjected, in consequence of the number of unjust, absurd, and frivolous patents, which have been granted to a set of speculators, and praying that additional restrictions may be impose; the issuing of patents.—Referred to the Com- mittee on the Judiciary. ‘Mr. Cuaprent, from the Committee on Pen- sions and Revolutionary Claims, to which have been referred the petitions of Samuel Black; the heirs of George Nebinger, deceased ; John Dent; John Arnistrong ; Maria S. Tyson; Nancy Ar- mon; Sylvanus Townsend; and Aca Lyon; re- ported a bill, authorizing the payment of the prin- cipal and interest due on the loan office certifi- cates therein named; which was read twice, and committed to the Committee of the Whole, on the bill from the Senate for the relief of the heirs of Landon Carter, deceased. Mr. Hvcn Newson, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to which was committed the bill from the Senaie, entitled “An act to provide for the due execution of the laws of the United States, within the State of Indiana,” reported the same without amendment, and the bill was committed to a Committee of the Whole. On motion of Mr. Yancey, the Committee of ‘Ways and Means were instructed to inquire into the expediency of increasing the duty imposed on foreign spirits. A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have passed bills from this House of the following titles, to wit: “An act toexplain the act to authorize certain officers, and other persons, to administer oaths,” approved May the 3d, 1798, with amendments; “An act directing the discharge of William Smith from imprison- ment;” “An act making an appropriation to ena- dle the President of the United States to hold treaties with the Indian tribes, for the purpose therein mentioned ;” “An act providing for the division of certain quarter-sections in fature sales of the public lands;” and “An act for the relief of John Haslett »” in which amendments and bills they ask the concurrence of this House. "he engrossed bill “ concerning the navigation of the United States,” was read the third time, and passed. ‘A Message was received from the President of the United States, in relation to discriminating duties on British vessels and their cargoes; which was read, and referred to the Commitiee of Ways and Means, ‘Mr. Yancey, from. the Committee of Claims, to which was committed the bill from the Sen- ate, entitled “An act authorizing the settlement of the accounts of Flavil Sabin, deceased,” re- ‘Reports on Various Claims. Fesnvary, 1817, rted the same without amendment; and the ill was committed to the Committee of the Whole on the bill for the relief of Caze and Ri- chaud. : Ms. Yancey, from the same committee, made detailed reports on the petitions of Peter Caslard, Tumonville de Villiers, Madame Montreuil, John de Castanado, James H. Boisgervais, and Antoine Bienvenue; which said reports were severally, read; when Mr. Y. reported the following bills, to wit: A bill for the relief of Peter Caslard; @ bill for the relief of Jumonville de Villiers; a bill for the relief of Madame Montreuil ; a bill for the relief of John de Castanado a bill for the relief of Antoine Bienvenue ; and a bill for the relief of James H. Boisgervais : which said bills were sev- erally read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole, to which is committed the bill for the relief of Gaze and Richaud. REPORTS ON VARIOUS CLAIMS. The reports in the cases of Villiers, Montreuil, Bienvenue, and Castanado, are as follows: [Report on the case of Jumonville de Villiers.] That, in the months of December, 1814, and Janu- ary, 1815, the Americen troops called to the defence of New Orleans, and commanded by General Andrew Jackson, were stationod on the plantation of the peti- tioner ; that, while so stationed there, it beeame ne- cessary to use for fuel, for the use of the troops, a quantity of fencing, and the petitioner requests of Con- gress to pay him the value thereof, and also the value of a quantity of sugar cane and sugar, which he states wero used by the troops of the United Stato ‘The committeo are of opinion, that the fencing hav- ing been made use of for fuel, which could not have been procured of the ordinary kind, from the nature of the service, and the circumstances under which the troops were collected for the defence of New Orleans, the claimant is entitled to relief, #0 far as respects the value of the fence, but that the Government cannot be considered liable for the destruction of the cane or use of the sugar, it being neither necessary for the service nor for tho sustenance of the army. Pursuant to this opinion they report a bill, authorizing payment for the [Report on the case of Madame Montreuil.] ‘That the petitioner owned a plantation situated be- low New Orleans, which was occupied by the Amer can army in 1814 and 1815, and upon which public works for the defence of the country were erected ; that, in consequence of such occupation, and the erec- tion’ of line of public works through the plantation, it has received considerable injury, and would cost a considerable sum to place it in the same situation it ‘was in before its occupation. ‘The committee are of opinion the petitioner is en- titled to relief, and therefore report a bill. [Report on the caso of Antoine Bienvenue.} ‘That the claimant was owner of an elegant and well furniehed house situated below the city of New Or- leans, and between the positions occupied by the American end British armies in December, 1814, and January, 1815. In consequence of this situation of the house anil the two armics, it afforded a shelter to the British army, and was, by General Jackson, or-