Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1815-12-23

10 whom, IN redemption or that pledge, war
rants tor their bounty in land had been
granted, but which from such transfer can
not be carried into effect and that the
said committee do also enquire into the
means which in their opinion will be best
calculated to establish on equitable prin
cipies the line of demarkation between
the lands reserved by Virginia north
west Of the river Ohio, and those
granted to the United States and that
they have leave to report by ball or o.
therwise.
The remainder of the days sitting was
on confidential business.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,,
FRIDAY, DEC. IS.
The following petitions were presented
and duly referred this day, viz.
by Mr. HopkiRson. the petition of Jacob
Clement, merchant of Philadelphia, pray
ing an adequate compensation for damages
sustained by him, in the loss of two vessels
chartered to the government of the Uni
ted States, to transport provisions to the
inhabitants of Venezuela, in the year
1912.
BY Mr.. Archer, the petition of Frederick
Williamson, Frederick Ernest, George
Galligo, Ebenczcr Evans, and Monday
smith, late seamen in the service of the
u. States, under the command of Commo-
dore Barney, respectively praying for pen
sions.
BY. Mr.. Thomas Wilson, the petition of
sundry inhabitants of Erie county, Pa.
praying that the mails may not be opened
or transmitted on Sundays.
BY Mr.. Whiteside, the petition of sun
dry inhabitants of the county of Lancaster,
Pa. praying that the duties imposed upon
stills and distilled domestic spirits, be re-
pealed.
BY Mr.. Hungerford, the petition of sun
dry inhabitants Of the Northern Neck of
Virginia, praying the establishment of a port
of entry at Dividing Greek.
BY the Speaker, the Petition of the Lee
gISlature OF the Mississippi territory, pray
ing that the titles to lands in said territory,
granted by the former Spanish govern
ment, which had previously been granted
by the British government, may be con-
frmed to the holders under the Spanish
government.
BY Mr.. baltimore, the petition of sundry
inhabitants of the Mississippi territory of a
similar nature.
Sundry petitions and motions in respect
to post roads, made their appearance as
usual, and were disposed Of 1t is to be
regretted that all petitions and motions
on this subject should not, instead of en-
numbering the Journals, 90 of course before
the committee.
MONDAY, DEC. 10.
Mr.. Grosvenor of n. York, appeared and
took his scat.
a number of petitions, hereafter to be
enumerated, were presented and referred
to appropriate committees.
MIR. Gold offered for consideration the
following resolution
Hesoired, That the committee on the judiciary
be instructed to enquire ss 10 the official duties of
the respective District Judges Of the United States
whether the same in certain districts have not been
greatly increased since the compensation was fixed
b. law, and whether the COMPENSATION now allow.
ed by law, be adequate to the duties enjoned OH The
Judges.
Mr.. 9. remarked, in support of this
motion, that when the compensation Of
the District Judges had been fixed, it was
no doubt adequate tothe scrvlces they then
mad TO perform; but it was very notorious
that the duties had INCREASED in some dis
trlcts in four-Gold degree. Such had BE- en-
the increase of the business of the Dlstri I
Judge in New York state, that it had been
found necessary by Congr IS to divide the
state into two districts. The act for that
purpose however contained a provision
that in case the Judge of one Of those dis
tricts should be unable to attend to the du-
ties Of his office, the Judge of the remain
ing district should perform the duties OF
both. Now, the fact was, that the Judge
OF enc cf tn Sc districts had been wholly
unable to attend to his judicial dates; in
con cquencc of which the duties of that
district had devolved on the Judge of the
other. He was by this circumstance obi
ged to travel two thousand miles year,
at an expence which nearly absorbed in
necessary travelling expenses the whole
amount of his salary as there might be
other districts in the same situation, he