"Under these views of the subject, the committee have hesitated what report to make; but, upon the whole, as the authority vested in the Executive Department is competent to meet this claim; and should the petitioner, from her sufferings and her attachment to the United States, appear to the Executive to be entitled to any annual relief, as it may be afforded out of the appropriations for contingent expenses in the Indian Department, without any interference of the Legislature, and as this mode will probably involve the fewest difficulties, the committee think she should apply to that department; and that the prayer of her petition ought not to be granted."[12] The committee reported their agreement with the resolution reported from the Committee of Claims. The question was taken, that the House do agree with the Committee of the whole House in their agreement to the said report, and resolved in the affirmative. THURSDAY, March 2. The bill for the relief of American seamen was read the third time and passed. _Military Appropriations._ On the motion of Mr. W. SMITH, the House went into a committee of the Whole on the bill making appropriation for the Military Establishment, when the following items were agreed to without debate: For the payment of the army, $256,450 For the subsistence of the officers, 47,395 For the subsistence of the non-commissioned officers and privates, 245,283 For forage, 14,904 For clothing, 83,050 Mr. W. SMITH then proposed to insert a new item, in consequence of the bill just passed, "For the purchase of horses and the equipment of the cavalry, $16,085." Mr. GALLATIN said, the items which had been agreed to were upon the ground of an increase of 126 dragoons which was not in the former bill. The item now under consideration went to provide horses and equipments for an additional company of cavalry. It appeared that this company was heretofore without either, so that they must have been employed as dismounted dragoons; and if they now appropriated the sum before them, they would, in fact, add a company of horse to the establishment. He believed it to be the general opinion that they had cavalry sufficient at present; indeed, it was the opinion of a large majority of that House that none were necessary; but if they did appropriate for any, he thought they ought not to go beyond the present establishment.