MONDAY, December 6, 1790.
The Senate assembled: present,
JOHN ADAMS, Vice President of the United States, and President of the
Senate.
From New Hampshire, JOHN LANGDON and PAINE WINGATE.
From Massachusetts, TRISTRAM DALTON.
From Connecticut, OLIVER ELLSWORTH.
From New York, RUFUS KING.
From Pennsylvania, WILLIAM MACLAY and ROBERT MORRIS.
From Delaware, RICHARD BASSETT.
From North Carolina, SAMUEL JOHNSTON and BENJAMIN HAWKINS.
From South Carolina, PIERCE BUTLER and RALPH IZARD.
From Georgia, WILLIAM FEW.
PHILEMON DICKINSON, from the State of New Jersey, produced his
credentials and took his seat in the Senate, in the place of Governor
PATERSON.
JAMES MONROE, appointed by the Legislature of the State of Virginia, in
the place of JOHN WALKER, who was appointed by the Executive of the said
State in the room of WILLIAM GRAYSON, deceased, produced his
credentials, and took his seat in the Senate.
The VICE PRESIDENT administered the oath required by law to Mr.
DICKINSON and Mr. MONROE, respectively.
A letter was read from WILLIAM PATERSON, Governor of the State of New
Jersey, communicating the resignation of his appointment to be a Senator
of the United States.
_Ordered_, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives that a
quorum of the Senate is assembled, and ready to proceed to business.
TUESDAY, December 7.
A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that a
quorum of that body is assembled and ready to proceed to business.
Messrs. LANGDON and MORRIS were appointed a committee, on the part of
the Senate, to inform the President of the United States that a quorum
of the two Houses is assembled, and will be ready, in the Senate
Chamber, at such time as he may appoint, to receive any communication
which he may be pleased to make.
Mr. LANGDON, in the course of the day, reported that the President would
meet the two Houses, as proposed, to-morrow, at 12 o'clock.
WEDNESDAY, December 8.
JONATHAN ELMER, from New Jersey; CALEB STRONG, from Massachusetts; and
GEORGE READ, from the State of Delaware; attended.
A letter from the Commissioners of the city and county of Philadelphia
was received, offering to Congress the county court-house for their
accommodation during their residence in Philadelphia.
The members of the House of Representatives having taken their seats,
the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES entered the Senate Chamber, and
addressed both Houses as follows:
_Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and House of
Representatives:_
In meeting you again, I feel much satisfaction in being
able to repeat my congratulations on the favorable
prospects which continue to distinguish our public affairs.
The abundant fruits of another year have blessed our
country with plenty, and with the means of a flourishing
commerce. The progress of public credit is witnessed by a
considerable rise of American stock abroad as well as at
home; and the revenues allotted for this and other national
purposes have been productive beyond the calculations by
which they were regulated. This latter circumstance is the
more pleasing, as it is not only a proof of the fertility
of our resources, but as it assures us of a further
increase of the national respectability and credit; and,
let me add, as it bears an honorable testimony to the
patriotism and integrity of the mercantile and marine part
of our citizens. The punctuality of the former in
discharging their engagements has been exemplary.
In conforming to the powers vested in me by acts of the
last session, a loan of three millions of florins, towards
which some provisional measures had previously taken place,
has been completed in Holland. As well the celerity with
which it has been filled, as the nature of the terms,
(considering the more than ordinary demand for borrowing,
created by the situation of Europe,) give a reasonable hope
that the further execution of those powers may proceed
with advantage and success. The Secretary of the Treasury
has my directions to communicate such further particulars
as may be requisite for more precise information.
Since your last sessions I have received communications by
which it appears that the district of Kentucky, at present
a part of Virginia, has concurred in certain propositions
contained in a law of that State; in consequence of which
the district is to become a distinct member of the Union,
in case the requisite sanction of Congress be added. For
this sanction application is now made. I shall cause the
papers on this very important transaction to be laid before
you. The liberality and harmony with which it has been
conducted will be found to do great honor to both the
parties; and, the sentiments of warm attachment to the
Union and its present Government, expressed by our
fellow-citizens of Kentucky, cannot fail to add an
affectionate concern for their particular welfare to the
great national impressions under which you will decide on
the case submitted to you.
It has been heretofore known to Congress, that frequent
incursions have been made on our frontier settlements by
certain banditti of Indians from the north-west side of the
Ohio. These, with some of the tribes dwelling on and near
the Wabash, have of late been particularly active in their
depredations; and, being emboldened by the impunity of
their crimes, and aided by such parts of the neighboring
tribes as could be seduced to join in their hostilities, or
afford them a retreat for their prisoners and plunder, they
have, instead of listening to the humane invitations and
overtures made on the part of the United States, renewed
their violences with fresh alacrity, and greater effect.
The lives of a number of valuable citizens have thus been
sacrificed, and some of them under circumstances peculiarly
shocking, whilst others have been carried into a deplorable
captivity.
These aggravated provocations rendered it essential to the
safety of the Western settlements, that the aggressors
should be made sensible that the Government of the Union is
not less capable of punishing their crimes, than it is
disposed to respect their rights and reward their
attachments. As this object could not be effected by
defensive measures, it became necessary to put in force the
act which empowers the President to call out the militia
for the protection of the frontiers; and I have,
accordingly, authorized an expedition, in which the regular
troops in that quarter are combined with such drafts of
militia as were deemed sufficient: the event of the measure
is yet unknown to me. The Secretary of War is directed to
lay before you a statement of the information on which it
is founded, as well as an estimate of the expense with
which it will be attended.
The disturbed situation of Europe, and particularly the
critical posture of the great maritime Powers, whilst it
ought to make us the more thankful for the general peace
and security enjoyed by the United States, reminds us, at
the same time, of the circumspection with which it becomes
us to preserve these blessings. It requires, also, that we
should not overlook the tendency of a war, and even of
preparations for a war, among the nations most concerned in
active commerce with this country, to abridge the means,
and thereby at least to enhance the price of transporting
its valuable productions to their proper markets. I
recommend it to your serious reflection how far, and in
what mode, it may be expedient to guard against
embarrassments from these contingencies, by such
encouragements to our own navigation as will render our
commerce and agriculture less dependent on foreign bottoms,
which may fail us in the very moments most interesting to
both of these great objects. Our fisheries, and the
transportation of our own produce, offer us abundant means
for guarding ourselves against this evil.
Your attention seems to be not less due to that particular
branch of our trade which belongs to the Mediterranean. So
many circumstances unite in rendering the present state of
it distressful to us, that you will not think any
deliberations misemployed which may lead to its relief and
protection.
The laws you have already passed for the establishment of a
Judiciary system have opened the doors of justice to all
description of persons. You will consider, in your wisdom,
whether improvements in that system may yet be made; and,
particularly, whether a uniform process of execution, on
sentences issuing from the Federal courts, be not desirable
through all the States.
The patronage of our commerce, of our merchants, and
seamen, has called for the appointment of Consuls in
foreign countries. It seems expedient, to regulate by law,
the exercise of that jurisdiction, and those functions
which are permitted them, either by express convention, or
by a friendly indulgence, in the places of their residence.
The Consular Convention, too, with His Most Christian
Majesty, has stipulated, in certain cases, the aid of the
national authority to his Consuls established here. Some
legislative provision is requisite to carry these
stipulations into full effect.
The establishment of the Militia, of a Mint, of Standards
of Weights and Measures, of the Post Office and post roads,
are subjects which (I presume) you will resume of course,
and which are abundantly urged by their own importance.
_Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:_
The sufficiency of the revenues you have established for
the objects to which they are appropriated, leaves no doubt
that the residuary provisions will be commensurate to the
other objects for which the public faith stands now
pledged. Allow me, moreover, to hope that it will be a
favorite policy with you not merely to secure a payment of
the debt funded, but as far and as fast as the growing
resources of the country will permit, to exonerate it of
the principle itself. The appropriation you have made of
the Western lands explains your dispositions on this
subject, and I am persuaded the sooner that valuable fund
can be made to contribute, along with other means, to the
actual reduction of the public debt, the more salutary will
the measure be to every public interest, as well as the
more satisfactory to our constituents.
_Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives:_
In pursuing the various and weighty business of the present
session, I indulge the fullest persuasion that your
consultations will be equally marked with wisdom, and
animated by the love of your country. In whatever belongs
to my duty, you shall have all the co-operation which an
undiminished zeal for its welfare can inspire. It will be
happy for us both, and our best reward, if, by a successful
administration of our respective trusts, we can make the
established Government more and more instrumental in
promoting the good of our fellow-citizens, and more and
more the object of their attachment and confidence.