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to execute this work, they were authorized to levy a toll or duty, of 20 cent per ton, on all vessels coming in at the inlet, when completed. As thi charter would be inoperative, unless it received the sanction of Congress that company has never been able to go into operation, for the want of tha sanction; and, although a large section of our country has been annually suf fering under a great and apparent evil, they have neither been allowed to re move it themselves, nor have they received that protection and assistance which they had a right to ask. The committee believe it would be inexpe dient, as tending to produce confusion in our commercial regulations, to per mit a chartered company to levy a tonnage duty. They therefore recom. mend, that, as the work is one exclusively within the powers of the General Government, it should be undertaken as soon as satisfactory estimates of the cost are made. In surrendering the entire control over the commerce of the country, the States certainly expected that commerce would be fostered and protected. If, therefore, the memorialists are not entitled to relief from the General Government, their case is remediless. The committee beg leave to offer to the House the accompanying resolution.

1st Session.

ENTOMBMENT AND STATUE OF WASHINGTON.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES,
February 22, 1830.

On motion of Mr. Mitchell, of Maryland, Resolved, That the following resolutions of the Congress of the United States, unanimously adopted on the 23d December, 1799, and the message of President Adams, of the 8th January, 1800,* to Congress, respecting the entombment of the remains of General George Washington in this Capitol, be referred to a select committee; and that the said committee be authorized to report by bill or otherwise; and

Mr. Mitchell, of Maryland, Chairman,

66 Anderson of Maine,

"Harvey, of New Hampshire,
"Gorham, of Massachusetts,

"Burges, of Rhode Island,

"Barber, of Connecticut,
"Swift, of Vermont,

"Cambreleng, of New York,
"Swan, of New Jersey,
"Hemphill, of Pennsylvania,
"Johns, of Delaware,

"P. P. Barbour, of Virginia,
"Hall, of North Carolina,
"Drayton, of South Carolina,
"Wilde, of Georgia,

"Johnson, of Kentucky,

"Polk, of Tennessee,

"Stanberry, of Ohio,

"Overton, of Louisiana,

"Test, of Indiana,

"Duncan, of Illinois,

"Clay, of Alabama,
"Pettis, of Missouri, and
"Hinds, of Mississippi,

were appointed the said committee.

Attest:

M. St. CLAIR CLARKE,

Clerk House Representatives United States.

* These papers are embodied in the report of the Committee.

MARCH 15, 1830.

Read, and committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

Mr. MITCHELL, of Maryland, from the Select Committee to which the subject had been referred, submitted the following REPORT:

The Select Committee appointed in pursuance of a resolution adopted by the House of Representatives on the 22d day of February last, and to which was referred sundry resolutions of Congress, heretofore adopted, respecting the national entombment of the remains of General George Washington in the Capitol, in the City of Washington, have had this interesting subject under their serious consideration, and submit the following abstract of their proceedings, which are respectfully presented to the House as their report, viz:

COMMITTEE Room, March 2, 1830.

The committee met, and after mature consideration, it was

Resolved, That the Chairman appoint a sub-committee, to consider and report to the select committee the mode and manner most expedient to be adopted for carrying into execution the resolutions which have been sub. mitted by the House of Representatives to this committee, respecting a national entombment of the remains of General George Washington; and that the Chairman of the committee be requested to act as a member of the sub-committee.

Sub-committee, Mr. Burges, Mr. Drayton, Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, and Mr. Mitchell. March 27th, 1830.

The Sub-Committee made to the Select Committee the following report: Committee Room of the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, MARCH 13, 1830.

.

The Sub-committee met agreeable to appointment.

The Committee called on the Commissioner of the Public Buildings to give them information respecting the vault heretofore provided for the entombment of General George Washington, under the central dome of the Capitol. His report will be found hereunto annexed. The committee thereupon, after a free conversation, and a full interchange of ideas on this interesting subject, directed Mr. Burges to draw up a report of their deliberations thereon, to be laid before the whole committee appointed by the House of Representatives, on the 22d day of February, 1830; and thereupon adjourned until the 17th of March instant, to meet in this place, for the purpose of examining said report, preparatory to laying the same before said whole committee.

MARCH 17, 1830.

The Sub-committee met according to adjournment.
Mr. Burges submitted the following

REPORT:

Although our country itself, and the history of the age in which he lived, are filled with testimonials of the eminent services and high character of

Washington, yet will it be found that the American People have ever cherished the intention of consecrating to him some peculiar monumental memorials, to the intent that after times may perceive that the nation which was established by his valor and guided by his counsels could never cease to cherish his memory and venerate his character. The Continental Congress, Thursday, August 7, 1783.

On motion of Mr. A. Lee, seconded by Mr. Bland,

Resolved, (unanimously, ten States being present,) That an equestrian statue of General Washington be erected at the place where the residence of Congress shall be established.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. A. Lee, Mr. Ellsworth, and Mr. Mifflin, appointed to prepare a plan of an equestrian statue of the Commander-in-chief,

Resolved, That the statue be of bronze, the General to be represented in a Roman dress, holding a truncheon in his right hand, and his head encircled with a laurel wreath. The statue to be supported by a marble pedestal, on which are to be represented, in basso relievo, the following principal events of the war, in which General Washington commanded in person, viz: the evacuation of Boston; the capture of the Hessians at Trenton; the battle of Princeton; the action of Monmouth; and the surrender of York. On the upper part of the front of the pedestal to be engraved as follows: The United States, in Congress assembled, ordered this statue to be erected, in the year of our Lord 1783, in honor of George Washington, the illustrious Commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States of America during the war which vindicated and secured their liberty, sovereignty, and independence.

Resolved, That a statue conformable to the above plan be executed by the best artist in Europe, under the superintendence of the Minister of the United States at the court of Versailles; and that money to defray the expense of the same be furnished from the Treasury of the United States.

Resolved, That the Secretary of Congress transmit to the Minister of the United States at the Court of Versailles the best resemblance of General Washington that can be procured, for the purpose of having the above statue erected; together with the fittest description of the events which are to be the subject of the basso relievo.

It will not be expected that the committee shall make any inquiry concerning the causes which may have prevented carrying these resolutions into effect. While the illustrious object of them lived, and, as a citizen or statesman, was disclosing to the nation and the world a character, if possible, more endeared and illustrious than that achieved by him as the first captain of the age, it would not have been singular if public opinion had changed, and the whole nation should question the appropriateness of consecrating to Washington such monumental honors as belong exclusively to the distinguished soldier.

When that event which finishes the formation of human character arrived, and the death of Washington made every dwelling-place in the land a house of mourning, the Senators and Representatives of these United States, in Congress assembled, did, in accordance with national feelings, and in honor of the mighty dead, pass the following, among other resolutions:

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1799.

It was resolved, That the House do unanimously agree to the following resolutions, to wit:

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That a marble monument be " erected by the United States in the Capitol at the city of Washington; and that the family of General Washington be requested to permit his body to be deposited under it; and that the monument be so designed as to commemorate the great events of his military and political life.

And be it further resolved, That there be a funeral procession from Congrees hall to the German Lutheran church, in honor of the memory of Ge- : neral George Washington, on Thursday, the 26th instant; and that an oration be prepared at the request of Congress, to be delivered before both Houses on that day; and that the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives be desired to request one of the members of Congress to prepare and deliver the same.

And be it further resolved, That it be recommended to the people of the United States to wear crape on the left arm as mourning for thirty days. And be it further resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to direct a copy of these resolutions to be transmitted to Mrs. Washington, assuring her of the profound respect Congress will ever bear to her person and character, of their condolence on the late afflicting dispensation of Providence, and entreating her assent to the interment of the remains of General George Washington in the manner expressed in the first resolution.

And be it further resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to issue a proclamation, notifying to the people throughout the United States the recommendation contained in the third resolution.

[The foregoing resolutions were sent to the Senate, and received their concurrence the same day.]

On the 8th of January, 1800, the following message was received from the President by both Houses of Congress:

Gentlemen of the Senate, and

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:

In compliance with the request in one of the resolutions of Congress of the 21st of December last, I transmitted a copy of those resolutions, by my Secretary, Mr. Shaw, to Mrs. Washington, assuring her of the profound respect Congress will ever bear to her person and character, of their condolence in the late afflicting dispensation of Providence, and entreating her assent to the interment of the remains of General George Washington in the manner expressed in the first resolution. As the sentiments of that vir tuous lady, not less beloved by this nation than she is at present greatly afflicted, can never be so well expressed as in her own words, I transmit to Congress her original letter.

It would be an attempt of too much delicacy to make any comments upon it; but there can be no doubt that the nation at large, as well as all the branches of the Government, will be highly gratified by any arrangement which may diminish the sacrifice she makes of her individual feelings.

JOHN ADAMS.

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