FRIDAY, December 6.
Mr. ELLSWORTH, from the committee appointed to report the draft of an
Address to the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, made a report; which was
read, and ordered for consideration on Monday next.
MONDAY, December 9.
Messrs. STEPHEN R. BRADLEY, from Vermont, THEODORE FOSTER, from Rhode
Island, and RUFUS KING, from New York, appeared and took their seats.
Agreeably to the order of the day, the Senate took into consideration
the draft of an Address reported by the committee in answer to the
Speech of the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES to Congress at the opening
of the session; which, being amended, and the several paragraphs of the
report agreed to, it was adopted, as follows:
"_To the President of the United States:_
"Accept, sir, the thanks of the Senate for your Speech
delivered to both Houses of Congress at the opening of the
session. Your re-election to the Chief Magistracy of the
United States gives us sincere pleasure. We consider it as
an event every way propitious to the happiness of our
country; and your compliance with the call, as a fresh
instance of the patriotism which has so repeatedly led you
to sacrifice private inclination to the public good. In the
unanimity which a second time marks this important national
act, we trace, with particular satisfaction, besides the
distinguished tribute paid to the virtues and abilities
which it recognizes, another proof of that just discernment
and constancy of sentiments and views which have hitherto
characterized the citizens of the United States.
"As the European Powers with whom the United States have
the most extensive relations were involved in war, in which
we had taken no part, it seemed necessary that the
disposition of the nation for peace should be promulgated
to the world, as well for the purpose of admonishing our
citizens of the consequences of a contraband trade and of
acts hostile to any of the belligerent parties, as to
obtain, by a declaration of the existing legal state of
things, an easier admission of our right to the immunities
of our situation; we, therefore, contemplate with pleasure
the Proclamation, by you issued, and give it our hearty
approbation. We deem it a measure well-timed and wise,
manifesting a watchful solicitude for the welfare of the
nation, and calculated to promote it.
"The several important matters presented to our
consideration will, in the course of the session, engage
all the attention to which they are respectively entitled;
and, as the public happiness will be the sole guide of our
deliberations, we are perfectly assured of receiving your
strenuous and most zealous co-operation.
"JOHN ADAMS,
"_Vice President of the United States,
and President of the Senate._"
_Ordered_, That Messrs. ELLSWORTH and BUTLER wait on the PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES, and desire him to acquaint the Senate at what time
and place it will be most convenient for him that the foregoing Address
should be presented.
TUESDAY, December 10.
JOHN BROWN, from the State of Kentucky, attended to-day.
Mr. ELLSWORTH reported, from the committee appointed yesterday to wait
on the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, that the PRESIDENT proposed to
receive the Address of the Senate this day, at 12 o'clock, at his own
house. Whereupon, the Senate waited on the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES, and the VICE PRESIDENT, in their name, presented the Address
agreed to on the ninth instant. To this Address the PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES was pleased to make the following Reply:
"GENTLEMEN: The pleasure expressed by the Senate on my
re-election to the station which I fill, commands my
sincere and warmest acknowledgments. If this be an event
which promises the smallest addition to the happiness of
our country, as it is my duty, so shall it be my study, to
realize the expectation.
"The decided approbation which, the Proclamation now
receives from your House, by completing the proofs that
this measure is considered as manifesting a vigilant
attention to the welfare of the United States, brings with
it a peculiar gratification to my mind.
"The other important subjects which have been communicated
to you will, I am confident, receive a due discussion; and
the result will, I trust, prove fortunate to the United
States.
"G. WASHINGTON."
The Senate then returned to their Chamber, and resumed the reading of
the papers communicated in the message of the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES of the 5th instant, but adjourned before they were got through.
WEDNESDAY, December 11.
CALEB STRONG, from Massachusetts, attended to-day.
The credentials of Mr. BROWN and Mr. STRONG were read, the usual oath
administered to them, and they took their seats.
FRIDAY, December 13.
WILLIAM BRADFORD, from Rhode Island, and JOHN TAYLOR, from Virginia,
attended, produced their credentials, and took the usual oath and their
seats.
MONDAY, December 16.
JAMES JACKSON, from Georgia, attended, produced his credentials, and,
the oath required by law being administered to him, he took his seat in
the Senate.
TUESDAY, December 17.
JOHN VINING, from Delaware, appeared, and, the oath required by law
being, by the VICE PRESIDENT, administered to him, he took his seat in
the Senate.
TUESDAY, December 24.
_Exclusion of Bank Officers and Stockholders from Congress._
The following motion was made and seconded, to wit: That the
constitution be amended by adding, at the end of the ninth section of
the first article, the following clause:
"Nor shall any person holding any office or stock in any
institution in the nature of a bank for issuing or
discounting bills or notes payable to bearer or order,
under the authority of the United States, be a member of
either House whilst he holds such office or stock, but no
power to grant any charter of incorporation, or any
commercial or other monopoly, shall be herein implied."
And it was agreed that this motion should lie for consideration.
TUESDAY, December 31.
Mr. RUTHERFORD reported, from the committee to whom was referred the
petition of Conrad Laub and others, stating that the Hon. ALBERT
GALLATIN, at the time he was elected a Senator of the United States, had
not been nine years a citizen of the said United States as is required
by the constitution; which report was read, and ordered to lie for
consideration.
WEDNESDAY, January 1, 1794.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the report of the committee
to whom was referred the petition of Conrad Laub and others.
On motion to postpone the consideration of the report until to-morrow,
it was agreed to amend this motion, by striking out the words
"to-morrow," and to insert, in lieu thereof, "Thursday, the 9th
instant."
THURSDAY, January 2.