MONDAY, October 24, 1791.
This being the day appointed by law for the meeting of the present
Congress, the following members appeared, produced their credentials,
and took their seats:
_From New Hampshire_, NICHOLAS GILMAN, SAMUEL LIVERMORE, and JEREMIAH
SMITH.
_From Massachusetts_, FISHER AMES, SHEARJASHUB BOURNE, ELBRIDGE GERRY,
BENJAMIN GOODHUE, GEORGE THATCHER, and ARTEMAS WARD.
_From Rhode Island_, BENJAMIN BOURNE.
_From Connecticut_, JAMES HILLHOUSE, JONATHAN STURGES, JONATHAN
TRUMBULL, JEREMIAH WADSWORTH, and AMASA LEARNED.
_From New York_, JAMES GORDON, JOHN LAURANCE, PETER SYLVESTER, and
THOMAS TREDWELL.
_From New Jersey_, ELIAS BOUDINOT.
_From Pennsylvania_, THOMAS FITZSIMONS, DANIEL HEISTER, and FREDERICK
AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG.
_From Delaware_, JOHN VINING.
_From Maryland_, JOSHUA SENEY, and SAMUEL STERRETT.
_From Virginia_, JOHN BROWN, WILLIAM B. GILES, SAMUEL GRIFFIN, JAMES
MADISON, ANDREW MOORE, and ALEXANDER WHITE.
_From North Carolina_, JOHN STEELE, and HUGH WILLIAMSON.
_From South Carolina_, DANIEL HUGER, WILLIAM SMITH, and THOMAS TUDOR
TUCKER.
_From Georgia_, FRANCIS WILLIS.
A quorum of the members being present, the House proceeded to ballot for
Speaker, when it appeared that JONATHAN TRUMBULL, from Connecticut, was
elected.
On being conducted to the chair, Mr. TRUMBULL addressed the House as
follows:
GENTLEMEN: I find myself unable to express to you the full
sense I have of the distinguished honor you have done me in
the choice of your Speaker.
The diffidence I feel in my abilities to discharge, with
propriety, the duties of the chair, is almost insuperable
in my own mind. But, encouraged by the known candor of this
honorable body, and depending, as I think I may confidently
do, on the kind assistance of each individual in it, I
shall enter on its duties, with full assurances to you,
gentlemen, that I shall endeavor to conduct myself with
that impartiality, integrity, and assiduity, which become
the conspicuous station in which you have been pleased to
place me.
The House then proceeded to ballot for a Clerk, when there appeared a
unanimous vote for JOHN BECKLEY.
The oath to support the constitution was then administered to the
members present, and the oath of office to the Speaker and Clerk.
_Ordered_, That the Speaker appoint committees until the House shall
otherwise determine.
A message was received from the Senate, informing the House that a
quorum of that body is assembled and ready to proceed to business; and
that the Senate have informed the President of the United States that
they are ready to receive any communications he may be pleased to make
to them.
_Resolved_, That Mr. SMITH, of South Carolina, Mr. LAURANCE, and Mr.
WHITE, be a committee on the part of this House, to act jointly with the
committee from the Senate, to wait on the President.
_Ordered_, That a committee be appointed to prepare and report Standing
Rules and Orders of proceeding for the House. Messrs. MUHLENBERG,
TUCKER, WILLIAMSON, AMES, and SMITH, of New Hampshire, were named.
JOSEPH WHEATON was appointed Sergeant-at-Arms; and GIFFORD DALLEY,
Doorkeeper, and THOMAS CLAXTON, assistant Doorkeeper.
_Resolved_, That two Chaplains, of different denominations, be appointed
to Congress for the present session, to interchange weekly.
Mr. SMITH, from the joint committee appointed to wait on the President
of the United States, reported that the President would make a
communication to both Houses to-morrow at twelve o'clock, in the Senate
Chamber.
A message from the Senate announced the agreement of that body to the
resolution of this House for the appointment of two Chaplains, and had
elected the Right Reverend Bishop WHITE, on their part.
TUESDAY, October 25.
The following members appeared, presented their credentials, and took
their seats: ABRAHAM CLARK, JONATHAN DAYTON, and AARON KITCHELL, from
New Jersey; and ISRAEL JACOBS, from Pennsylvania.
The House proceeded to ballot for a Chaplain, when a majority of the
votes were found in favor of the Rev. Mr. BLAIR.
A message being received from the Senate, stating that they were ready
to receive the communication from the President of the United States,
the Speaker, attended by the members of the House, withdrew to the
Senate Chamber for the purpose of receiving the same.
On the return of the members, the Speaker laid before the House a copy
of the Speech delivered by the President, (which will be found in the
proceedings of the Senate.)
The Speech was committed to a Committee of the Whole to-morrow.
WEDNESDAY, October 26.
_President's Speech._
The House then went into Committee of the Whole, on the President's
Speech, Mr. MUHLENBERG in the chair.
The Speech being read, Mr. VINING moved a resolution, of which the
following is the purport:
"_Resolved_, That it is the opinion of this committee that
an Address should be presented to the President of the
United States by the House of Representatives, in answer to
his Speech, to congratulate him on the prosperous situation
of the United States, expressive of the approbation of the
House of the wise and prudent measures he has pursued
during their recess, in the execution of the duties
committed to his charge: promising speedy attention to the
important and momentous objects recommended to their
consideration, and expressing their approbation of the
humane and effectual steps taken, under his direction, for
the defence of the Western frontiers."
This resolution was objected to by Messrs. LAURANCE, SEDGWICK, SMITH,
(of South Carolina,) and LIVERMORE, upon the principle, that it
expressed the sense of the House upon points which required further
information and investigation before the House could, with propriety,
determine. It was difficult to say, before proper documents were laid
before the House, whether the measures adopted for the defence of the
Western frontiers were the most prudent that could be adopted. It was
impossible positively to assert, that the President, in the execution of
the duties assigned him in carrying into effect the excise act, had done
all for the best. Every member that spoke agreed in expressing his
individual opinion, that no doubt the President had acted with his
wonted prudence and wisdom in the execution of the trusts reposed in
him; but also agreed that it was improper, indeed, it was no compliment
paid to the President, to approve, before a formal examination.
In answer to these objections it was observed, that so far as
circumstances had been made known to the members, relative to the steps
taken by the President during the recess of the Federal Legislature, so
far they claimed the approbation of the House; and that the opinion of
the House was only meant to be given as far as they were informed. It
was urged, that the answer of the House should be a candid expression of
their feelings; feelings which the prosperous situation of the country
undoubtedly called forth, and which the issue of the measures adopted
could not fail to excite.
Several modifications were proposed to the resolution, which was finally
agreed to, as follows:
"_Resolved_, That it is the opinion of this committee that
a respectful Address ought to be presented by the House of
Representatives to the President of the United States, in
answer to his Speech to both Houses of Congress at the
commencement of this session, containing assurances that
this House will take into consideration the various and
important matters recommended to their attention."
Mr. MADISON, Mr. LAURANCE, and Mr. SMITH, (of South Carolina,) were
appointed a committee to prepare an Address, pursuant to the resolution.
THURSDAY, October 27.
Mr. MADISON, from the committee appointed, reported an Address to the
President of the United States, in answer to his Speech to both Houses
of Congress; which was read, and ordered to be committed to a Committee
of the whole House immediately.
_Address to the President._
The House accordingly resolved itself into a Committee of the whole
House on the said Address; and, after some time spent therein, Mr.
MUHLENBERG reported that the committee had had the said Address under
consideration, and made no amendment thereto. Whereupon, it was
_Resolved, unanimously_, That this House doth agree to the said Address,
in the words following:
SIR: In receiving your Address, at the opening of the
present session, the House of Representatives have taken an
ample share in the feelings inspired by the actual
prosperity and flattering prospects of our country; and
whilst, with becoming gratitude to Heaven, we ascribe this
happiness to the true source from which it flows, we behold
with an animating pleasure the degree in which the
Constitution and laws of the United States have been
instrumental in dispensing it.
It yields us particular satisfaction to learn the success
with which the different important measures of the
Government have proceeded; as well those specially provided
for the last session, as those of preceding date. The
safety of our Western frontier, in which the lives and
repose of so many of our fellow-citizens are involved,
being peculiarly interesting, your communications on that
subject are proportionally grateful to us. The gallantry
and good conduct of the militia, whose services were called
for, is an honorable confirmation of the efficacy of that
precious resource of a free State. And we anxiously wish
that the consequences of their successful enterprises, and
of the other proceedings to which you have referred, may
leave the United States free to pursue the most benevolent
policy towards the unhappy and deluded race of people in
our neighborhood.
The amount of the population of the United States,
determined by the returns of the census, is a source of the
most pleasing reflections, whether it be viewed in relation
to our national safety and respectability, or as a proof of
that felicity in the situation of our country, which favors
so unexampled a rapidity in its growth. Nor ought any to be
insensible to the additional motive suggested by this
important fact to perpetuate the free Government
established with a wise administration of it, to a portion
of the earth which promises such an increase of the number
which is to enjoy those blessings within the limits of the
United States.
We shall proceed with all the respect due to your patriotic
recommendations, and with a deep sense of the trust
committed to us by our fellow-citizens, to take into
consideration the various and important matters falling
within the present session; and, in discussing and deciding
each, we shall feel every disposition, whilst we are
pursuing the public welfare, which must be the supreme
object with all our constituents, to accommodate, as far as
possible, the means of attaining it to the sentiments and
wishes of every part of them.
Mr. MADISON, from the committee appointed to wait on the President of
the United States, to know when and where it will be convenient for him
to receive the Address of this House, in answer to his Speech to both
Houses of Congress, reported that the committee had waited on the
President, who signified to them that it would be convenient to him to
receive the said Address at twelve o'clock to-morrow, at his own house.
FRIDAY, October 28.
The SPEAKER, attended by the House, then withdrew to the house of the
President of the United States, and there presented to him the Address
of this House, in answer to his Speech to both Houses of Congress; to
which the President made the following reply:
_Gentlemen:_
The pleasure I derive from an assurance of your attention
to the objects I have recommended to you is doubled by your
concurrence in the testimony I have borne to the prosperous
condition of our public affairs.
Relying on the sanctions of your enlightened judgment, and
on your patriotic aid, I shall be the more encouraged in
all my endeavors for the public weal, and particularly in
those which may be required on my part for executing the
salutary measures I anticipate from your present
deliberations.