_Ordered_, That Messrs. TRACY, LAURANCE, and LIVERMORE be a committee to
report the draft of an Address to the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, in
answer to his Speech this day to both Houses of Congress.
WEDNESDAY, May 17.
RICHARD STOCKTON, from the State of New Jersey, attended.
THURSDAY, May 18.
HENRY TAZEWELL, from the State of Virginia, attended.
FRIDAY, May 19.
JOHN HENRY, from the State of Maryland, attended.
MONDAY, May 22.
JOHN BROWN, from the State of Kentucky, and JACOB READ, from the State
of South Carolina, severally attended.
JOHN RUTHERFORD, appointed a Senator from the State of New Jersey,
produced his credentials, which were read, and the oath required by law
being administered to him, he took his seat in the Senate.
TUESDAY, May 23.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the report of the committee of
the draft of an Address, in answer to the Speech of the PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES to both Houses of Congress, at the opening of the session.
On the motion to expunge the following paragraph, to wit:
"We are happy, since our sentiments on the subject are in
perfect unison with yours, in this public manner to
declare, that the conduct of the Government has been just
and impartial to foreign nations, and that those internal
regulations, which have been established for the
preservation of peace, are, in their nature, proper, and
have been fairly executed."
It was determined in the negative--yeas 11, nays 15, as follows:
YEAS--Messrs. Bloodworth, Blount, Brown, Cocke, Henry,
Hunter, Langdon, Martin, Mason, Tazewell, and Tattnall.
NAYS--Messrs. Bingham, Bradford, Foster, Goodhue,
Hillhouse, Howard, Laurance, Latimer, Livermore, Read,
Rutherford, Sedgwick, Stockton, Tichenor, and Tracy.
And the report being further amended, was adopted, as follows:
SIR: The Senate of the United States request you to accept
their acknowledgments for the comprehensive and interesting
detail you have given in your Speech to both Houses of
Congress, on the existing state of the Union.
While we regret the necessity of the present meeting of the
Legislature, we wish to express our entire approbation of
your conduct in convening it on this momentous occasion.
The superintendence of our national faith, honor, and
dignity, being, in a great measure, constitutionally
deposited with the Executive, we observe, with singular
satisfaction, the vigilance, firmness, and promptitude,
exhibited by you, in this critical state of our public
affairs, and from thence derive an evidence and pledge of
the rectitude and integrity of your administration. And we
are sensible it is an object of primary importance, that
each branch of the Government should adopt a language and
system of conduct which shall be cool, just, and
dispassionate, but firm, explicit, and decided.
We are equally desirous, with you, to preserve peace and
friendship with all nations, and are happy to be informed,
that neither the honor nor interests of the United States
forbid advances for securing those desirable objects, by
amicable negotiation with the French Republic. This method
of adjusting national differences is not only the most
mild, but the most rational and humane, and with
governments disposed to be just, can seldom fail of
success, when fairly, candidly, and sincerely used. If we
have committed errors, and can be made sensible of them, we
agree with you in opinion that we ought to correct them,
and compensate the injuries which may have been consequent
thereon; and we trust the French Republic will be actuated
by the same just and benevolent principles of national
policy.
We do, therefore, most sincerely approve of your
determination to promote and accelerate an accommodation of
our existing differences with that Republic, by
negotiation, on terms compatible with the rights, duties,
interests, and honor of our nation. And you may rest
assured of our most cordial co-operation, so far as it may
become necessary, in this pursuit.
Peace and harmony with all nations is our sincere wish;
but, such being the lot of humanity, that nations will not
always reciprocate peaceable dispositions, it is our firm
belief, that effectual measures of defence will tend to
inspire that national self-respect and confidence at
_home_, which is the unfailing source of respectability
_abroad_, to check aggression, and prevent war.
While we are endeavoring to adjust our differences with the
French Republic, by amicable negotiation, the progress of
the war in Europe, the depredations on our commerce, the
personal injuries to our citizens, and the general
complexion of affairs, prove to us your vigilant care, in
recommending to our attention effectual measures of
defence.
Those which you recommend, whether they relate to external
defence, by permitting our citizens to arm for the purpose
of repelling aggressions on their commercial rights, and by
providing sea convoys, or to internal defence, by
increasing the establishments of artillery and cavalry, by
forming a provisional army, by revising the militia laws,
and fortifying, more completely, our ports and harbors,
will meet our consideration, under the influence of the
same just regard for the security, interest, and honor of
our country, which dictated your recommendation.
Practices so unnatural and iniquitous, as those you state,
of our own citizens, converting their property and personal
exertions into the means of annoying our trade, and
injuring their fellow-citizens, deserve legal severity
commensurate with their turpitude.
Although the Senate believe that the prosperity and
happiness of our country does not depend on general and
extensive political connections with European nations, yet
we can never lose sight of the propriety as well as
necessity of enabling the Executive, by sufficient and
liberal supplies, to maintain, and even extend, our foreign
intercourse, as exigencies may require, reposing full
confidence in the Executive, in whom the constitution has
placed the powers of negotiation.
We learn, with sincere concern, that attempts are in
operation to alienate the affections of our fellow-citizens
from their Government. Attempts so wicked, wherever they
exist, cannot fail to excite our utmost abhorrence. A
Government chosen by the people for their own safety and
happiness, and calculated to secure both, cannot lose their
affections, so long as its administration pursues the
principle upon which it was erected. And your resolution to
observe a conduct just and impartial to all nations, a
sacred regard to our national engagements, and not to
impair, the rights of our Government, contains principles
which cannot fail to secure to your administration the
support of the National Legislature, to render abortive
every attempt to excite dangerous jealousies among us, and
to convince the world that our Government, and your
administration of it, cannot be separated from the
affectionate support of every good citizen. And the Senate
cannot suffer the present occasion to pass, without thus
publicly and solemnly expressing their attachment to the
constitution and Government of their country; and as they
hold themselves responsible to their constituents, their
consciences, and their God, it is their determination, by
all their exertions, to repel every attempt to alienate the
affections of the people from the Government, so highly
injurious to the honor, safety, and independence of the
United States.
We are happy, since our sentiments on the subject are in
perfect unison with yours, in this public manner to
declare, that we believe the conduct of the Government has
been just and impartial to foreign nations, and that those
internal regulations which have been established for the
preservation of peace, are in their nature proper, and have
been fairly executed.
And we are equally happy in possessing an entire confidence
in your abilities and exertions in your station to maintain
untarnished the honor, preserve the peace, and support the
independence of our country; to acquire and establish
which, in connection with your fellow-citizens, has been
the virtuous effort of a principal part of your life.
To aid you in these arduous and honorable exertions, as it
is our duty, so it shall be our faithful endeavor. And we
flatter ourselves, sir, that the proceedings of the present
session of Congress will manifest to the world, that,
although the United States love peace, they will be
independent. That they are sincere in their declarations to
be just to the French, and all other nations, and expect
the same in return.
If a sense of justice, a love of moderation and peace,
shall influence their councils, which we sincerely hope, we
shall have just grounds to expect peace and amity between
the United States and all nations will be preserved.
But if we are so unfortunate as to experience injuries from
any foreign power, and the ordinary methods by which
differences are amicably adjusted between nations shall be
rejected, the determination "not to surrender in any manner
the rights of the Government" being so inseparably
connected with the dignity, interest, and independence of
our country, shall by us be steadily and inviolably
supported.
THOMAS JEFFERSON,
_Vice President of the United States,
and President of the Senate_.
_Ordered_, That the committee who prepared the Address 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 it should be
presented.
Mr. TRACY reported from the committee that they had waited on the
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, and that he would receive the Address of
the Senate to-morrow, at 12 o'clock, at his own house.
_Resolved_, That the Senate will, to-morrow, at 12 o'clock, wait on the
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES accordingly.
WEDNESDAY, May 24.
ELIJAH PAINE, from the State of Vermont, attended.
Agreeably to the resolution of yesterday, the Senate waited on the
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, and the VICE PRESIDENT, in their name,
presented the Address then agreed to.
To which the PRESIDENT made the following reply:
_Mr. Vice President, and Gentlemen of the Senate_:
It would be an affectation in me to dissemble the pleasure
I feel on receiving this kind Address.
My long experience of the wisdom, fortitude, and patriotism
of the Senate of the United States, enhances in my
estimation the value of those obliging expressions of your
approbation of my conduct, which are a generous reward for
the past, and an affecting encouragement to constancy and
perseverance in future.
Our sentiments appear to be so entirely in unison, that I
cannot but believe them to be the rational result of the
understandings and the natural feelings of the hearts of
Americans in general, on contemplating the present state of
the nation.
While such principles and affections prevail, they will
form an indissoluble bond of union, and a sure pledge that
our country has no essential injury to apprehend from any
portentous appearances abroad. In a humble reliance on
Divine Providence, we may rest assured, that, while we
reiterate with sincerity our endeavors to accommodate all
our differences with France, the independence of our
country cannot be diminished, its dignity degraded, or its
glory tarnished, by any nation or combination of nations,
whether friends or enemies.