WASHINGTON, _Dec. 18, 1811_.
The Message and letters referred to were read, and ordered to lie on
the table.
FRIDAY, December 20.
Mr. GILMAN, from the committee, reported the bill to raise, for a
limited time, an additional military force, correctly engrossed;
and the bill was read the third time, and the blanks filled. On
the question, Shall this bill pass? it was determined in the
affirmative--yeas 26, nays 4, as follows:
YEAS.--Messrs. Anderson, Bibb, Bradley, Campbell of Ohio,
Campbell of Tennessee, Condit, Crawford, Cutts, Franklin,
Gaillard, German, Gilman, Gregg, Horsey, Howell, Leib, Lloyd,
Pope, Reed, Robinson, Smith of New York, Tait, Taylor, Turner,
Varnum, and Worthington.
NAYS.--Messrs. Dana, Goodrich, Hunter, and Lambert.
_Rangers for the Frontier._
The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill authorizing
the President of the United States to raise certain companies of spies
or rangers for the protection of the frontier of the United States;
and the bill was amended; and the President reported it to the House
accordingly.
On the question, Shall this bill be engrossed and read a third time as
amended? it was determined in the affirmative.
TUESDAY, December 24.
_Hudson River and Lake Ontario Canal._
The following Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES:
_To the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States_:
I communicate to Congress copies of an act of the Legislature
of New York, relating to a canal from the great Lakes to
Hudson's River. In making the communication, I consult the
respect due to that State in whose behalf the commissioners
appointed by the act have placed it in my hands for the purpose.
The utility of canal navigation is universally admitted. It
is not less certain, that scarcely any country offers more
extensive opportunities for that branch of improvements than
the United States; and none, perhaps, inducements equally
persuasive to make the most of them. The particular undertaking
contemplated by the State of New York, which marks an honorable
spirit of enterprise, and comprises objects of national as
well as more limited importance, will recall the attention of
Congress to the signal advantages to be derived to the United
States from a general system of internal communication and
conveyance; and suggest to their consideration whatever steps
may be proper, on their part, towards its introduction and
accomplishment. As some of those advantages have an intimate
connection with arrangements and exertions for the general
security, it is at a period calling for these that the merits
of such a system will be seen in the strongest lights.