"_Resolved_, That the election of ALBERT GALLATIN to be a
Senator of the United States was void, he not having been a
citizen of the United States the term of years required as
a qualification to be a Senator of the United States:"
A motion was made to divide the question at the word "void;" and,
On motion to agree to the first paragraph of the motion so divided, it
passed in the affirmative--yeas 14, nays 12, as follows:
YEAS.--Messrs. Bradford, Cabot, Ellsworth, Foster,
Frelinghuysen, Hawkins, Izard, King, Livermore, Mitchell,
Morris, Potts, Strong, and Vining.
NAYS.--Messrs. Bradley, Brown, Burr, Butler, Edwards, Gunn,
Jackson, Langdon, Martin, Monroe, Robinson, and Taylor.
On motion to adopt the resolution as follows:
"_Resolved_, That the election of ALBERT GALLATIN to be a
Senator of the United States was void, he not having been
a citizen of the United States the term of years required
as a qualification to be a Senator of the United States:"
It passed in the affirmative--yeas 14, nays 12.
_Resolved_, That an attested copy of the resolution of the Senate,
declaring the election of ALBERT GALLATIN to be void, be transmitted by
the PRESIDENT of the Senate to the Executive of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
FRIDAY, March 7.
A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate, that
the House of Representatives have passed a bill, entitled "An act to
prohibit the carrying on the slave trade from the United States to any
foreign place or country;" also, a bill, entitled "An act limiting the
time for presenting claims for destroyed certificates of certain
descriptions;" in which bills, severally, they desire the concurrence of
the Senate.
THURSDAY, March 13.
The bill authorizing and directing the settlement of the accounts of
Major General LAFAYETTE was read the third time.
_Resolved_, That this bill pass, that it be engrossed, and that the
title thereof be "An act allowing to Major General LAFAYETTE his pay and
emoluments while in the service of the United States."
WEDNESDAY, March 19.
The bill sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence,
entitled "An act to prohibit the carrying on the slave trade from the
United States to any foreign place or country," was read the third time
and passed.
THURSDAY, March 20.
The bill to authorize the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, in certain
cases, to alter the place for holding a session of Congress, was read
the second time.
MONDAY, March 24.
KENSEY JOHNS appeared and produced his credentials of an appointment by
the Governor of the State of Delaware as a Senator for the United
States, which were read.
Whereupon, it was moved that they be referred to the consideration of
the Committee of Elections before the said KENSEY JOHNS should be
permitted to qualify, who are directed to report thereon; and it passed
in the affirmative--yeas 13, nays 12, as follows:
YEAS.--Messrs. Bradley, Brown, Burr, Edwards, Gunn,
Hawkins, Jackson, Langdon, Livermore, Martin, Monroe,
Robinson, and Taylor.
NAYS.--Messrs Bradford, Cabot, Ellsworth, Foster,
Frelinghuysen, Izard, Mitchell, Morris, Potts, Rutherford,
Strong, and Vining.
The Senate resumed the second reading of the bill to authorize the
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, in certain cases, to alter the place
for holding a session of Congress.
TUESDAY, March 25.
The bill to authorize the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, in certain
cases, to alter the place for holding a session of Congress, was read
the third time; and, being amended,
_Resolved_, That this bill pass, that it be engrossed, and that the
title thereof be, "An act to authorize the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES, in certain cases, to alter the place of holding a session of
Congress."
WEDNESDAY, March 26.
The bill, sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence,
entitled "An act limiting the time for presenting claims for destroyed
certificates of certain descriptions," was read the third time.
_Resolved_, That this bill pass with amendments.
A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate, that
the House have passed "A resolution laying an embargo on the vessels in
the ports of the United States;" in which they desire the concurrence of
the Senate.
FRIDAY, March 28.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the report of the Committee of
Elections, to whom was referred the credentials of Kensey Johns,
appointed by the Executive of the State of Delaware to be a Senator of
the United States; which report is as follows:
"The Committee of Elections, to whom were referred the
credentials of an appointment by the Governor of the State
of Delaware, of Kensey Johns, as a Senator of the United
States, having had the same under consideration, report--
"That George Read, a Senator for the State of Delaware,
resigned his seat upon the 18th day of December, 1793, and
during the recess of the Legislature of said State.
"That the Legislature of the said State met in January, and
adjourned in February, 1794.
"That, upon the 19th day of March, and subsequent to the
adjournment of the said Legislature, Kensey Johns was
appointed, by the Governor of said State, to fill the
vacancy occasioned by the resignation aforesaid.
"Whereupon, the committee submit the following resolution:
"_Resolved_, That Kensey Johns, appointed by the Governor
of the State of Delaware, as a Senator of the United
States, for said State, is not entitled to a seat in the
Senate of the United States; a session of the Legislature
of the said State having intervened between the resignation
of the said George Read and the appointment of the said
Kensey Johns."
On the question to agree to this report, it passed in the
affirmative--yeas 20, nays 7, as follows:
YEAS.--Messrs. Bradford, Bradley, Brown, Burr, Butler,
Cabot, Edwards, Ellsworth, Frelinghuysen, Gunn, Hawkins,
Jackson, King, Langdon, Livermore, Martin, Mitchell,
Monroe, Robinson, and Taylor.
NAYS.--Messrs. Foster, Izard, Morris, Potts, Rutherford,
Strong, and Vining.
_Resolved_, That an attested copy of the resolution of the Senate, on
the appointment of Kensey Johns to be a Senator of the United States, be
transmitted, by the PRESIDENT of the Senate, to the Executive of the
State of Delaware.
TUESDAY, May 20.
The following Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES:
_Gentlemen of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives:_
In the communications which I have made to Congress during
the present session relative to foreign nations, I have
omitted no opportunity of testifying my anxiety to preserve
the United States in peace. It is peculiarly, therefore, my
duty, at this time to lay before you the present state of
certain hostile threats against the territories of Spain in
our neighborhood.
The documents which accompany this message develope the
measures which I have taken to suppress them, and the
intelligence which has been lately received.
It will be seen from thence that the subject has not been
neglected; that every power vested in the Executive on such
occasions has been exerted; and that there was reason to
believe that the enterprise projected against the Spanish
dominions was relinquished.
But it appears to have been revived upon principles which
set public order at defiance, and place the peace of the
United States in the discretion of unauthorized
individuals. The means already deposited in the different
departments of Government are shown, by experience, not to
be adequate to these high exigencies, although such of them
as are lodged in the hands of the Executive shall continue
to be used with promptness, energy, and decision,
proportioned to the case. But I am impelled, by the
position of our public affairs, to recommend that provision
be made for a stronger and more vigorous opposition than
can be given to such hostile movements under the laws as
they now stand.
G. WASHINGTON.
UNITED STATES, _May_ 20, 1794.
The Message and papers therein referred to were read, and ordered to lie
for consideration.
WEDNESDAY, May 21.
The following Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES:
_Gentlemen of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives:_
I lay before you, in confidence, sundry papers by which you
will perceive the state of affairs between us and the Six
Nations, and the probable cause to which it is owing; and
also certain information, whereby it would appear that some
encroachment was about to be made on our territory by an
officer and party of British troops. Proceeding upon a
supposition of the authenticity of this information,
although of a private nature, I have caused the
representation to be made to the British Minister, a copy
of which accompanies this Message.
It cannot be necessary to comment upon the very serious
nature of such an encroachment, nor to urge that this new
state of things suggests the propriety of placing the
United States in a posture of effectual preparation for an
event which, notwithstanding the endeavors making to avert
it, may, by circumstances beyond our control, be forced
upon us.