SAMUEL LIVERMORE, from New Hampshire.
THEODORE FOSTER, from Rhode Island.
URIAH TRACY, from Connecticut.
ELIJAH PAINE, from Vermont.
WILLIAM BINGHAM, from Pennsylvania.
HUMPHREY MARSHALL, from Kentucky.
ALEXANDER MARTIN and TIMOTHY BLOODWORTH, from North Carolina.
JACOB READ, from South Carolina.
The number of members present not being sufficient to constitute a
quorum, the Senate adjourned to 11 o'clock to-morrow morning.
TUESDAY, November 14.
JOHN LAURANCE, from the State of New York, and HENRY LATIMER, from the
State of Delaware, severally attended.
The number of members present not being sufficient to constitute a
quorum, the Senate adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, November 15.
BENJAMIN GOODHUE, from the State of Massachusetts, attended.
The number of members present not being sufficient to constitute a
quorum, the Senate adjourned.
THURSDAY, November 16.
The Senate assembled, and the number of members present not being
sufficient to constitute a quorum, the Senate adjourned.
FRIDAY, November 17.
JOHN LANGDON, from the State of New Hampshire, attended.
The number of members present not being sufficient to constitute a
quorum, the Senate adjourned.
SATURDAY, November 18.
No quorum being present, the Senate adjourned.
MONDAY, November 20.
JAMES GUNN, from the State of Georgia, attended.
No quorum being present, adjourned.
TUESDAY, November 21.
RAY GREENE, appointed a Senator by the State of Rhode Island, in the
place of WILLIAM BRADFORD, resigned, produced his credentials.
RICHARD STOCKTON, from the State of New Jersey, attended.
No quorum being present, the Senate adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, November 22.
The VICE PRESIDENT being absent, the Senate proceeded to the choice of a
President _pro tempore_, as the constitution provides; and JACOB READ
was duly elected.
JOSEPH ANDERSON, appointed a Senator by the State of Tennessee, for the
remainder of the term which the late Senator WILLIAM BLOUNT had drawn,
and was entitled to have served, produced his credentials; which were
read.
NATHANIEL CHIPMAN, appointed a Senator by the State of Vermont, in the
place of ISAAC TICHENOR, elected Governor, produced his credentials;
which were read.
The credentials of RAY GREENE were read.
ANDREW JACKSON, appointed a Senator by the State of Tennessee, produced
his credentials; which were read.
The oath required by law was administered by the PRESIDENT, to Messrs.
ANDERSON, CHIPMAN, GREENE, and JACKSON, they having severally taken
their seats in the Senate.
A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate, that a
quorum of the House is assembled, and ready to proceed to business.
_Ordered_, That the Secretary acquaint the House of Representatives that
a quorum of the Senate is assembled, and are ready to proceed to
business; and that, in the absence of the VICE-PRESIDENT, they have
elected JACOB READ, President of the Senate _pro tempore_.
_Resolved_, That each Senator be supplied, during the present session,
with copies of three such newspapers, printed in any of the States, as
he may choose, provided that the same are furnished at the rate of the
usual annual charge for such papers.
A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate, that
the House have appointed a joint committee on their part, together with
such committee as the Senate may appoint, to wait on the PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES, and notify him that a quorum of the two Houses is
assembled, and ready to receive any communications that he may be
pleased to make to them.
_Resolved_, That the Senate do concur in the appointment of a joint
committee, and that Messrs. BINGHAM and TRACY be the committee on the
part of the Senate.
_Resolved_, That two Chaplains be appointed to Congress for the present
session, one by each House, who shall interchange weekly; and that the
Right Rev. Bishop WHITE be Chaplain on the part of the Senate.
Mr. BINGHAM reported, from the joint committee, that they had waited on
the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, and had notified him that a quorum
of the two Houses is assembled; and that the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES acquainted the committee that he would meet the two Houses, in
the Representatives' Chamber, at 12 o'clock to-morrow.
THURSDAY, November 23.
A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the
House are now ready to meet the Senate in the Chamber of that House, to
receive such communications as the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES shall
please to make them.
The Senate then repaired to the Chamber of the House of Representatives
for the purpose above expressed.
The Senate returned to their own Chamber, and a copy of the Speech of
the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, this day addressed to both Houses of
Congress, was read:
_Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of
Representatives_:
I was for some time apprehensive that it would be
necessary, on account of the contagious sickness which
afflicted the city of Philadelphia, to convene the National
Legislature at some other place. This measure it was
desirable to avoid, because it would occasion much public
inconvenience, and a considerable public expense, and add
to the calamities of the inhabitants of this city, whose
sufferings must have excited the sympathy of all their
fellow-citizens. Therefore, after taking measures to
ascertain the state and decline of the sickness, I
postponed my determination, having hopes, now happily
realized, that, without hazard to the lives or health of
the members, Congress might assemble at this place, where
it was next by law to meet. I submit, however, to your
consideration, whether a power to postpone the meeting of
Congress, without passing the time fixed by the
constitution, upon such occasions, would not be a useful
amendment to the law of one thousand seven hundred and
ninety-four.
Although I cannot yet congratulate you on the
re-establishment of peace in Europe, and the restoration of
security to the persons and properties of our citizens from
injustice and violence at sea, we have nevertheless
abundant cause of gratitude to the Source of Benevolence
and Influence, for interior tranquillity and personal
security, for propitious seasons, prosperous agriculture,
productive fisheries, and general improvements; and, above
all, for a rational spirit of civil and religious liberty,
and a calm, but steady determination to support our
sovereignty, as well as our moral and religious principles,
against all open and secret attacks.
Our Envoys Extraordinary to the French Republic embarked,
one in July, the other early in August, to join their
colleague in Holland.[24] I have received intelligence of
the arrival of both of them in Holland, from whence they
all proceeded on their journey to Paris, within a few days
of the nineteenth of September. Whatever may be the result
of this mission, I trust that nothing will have been
omitted on my part, to conduct the negotiation to a
successful conclusion, on such equitable terms as may be
compatible with the safety, honor, and interests of the
United States. Nothing, in the mean time, will contribute
so much to the preservation of peace, and the attainment of
justice, as a manifestation of that energy and unanimity of
which, on many former occasions, the people of the United
States have given such memorable proofs, and the exertion
of those resources for national defence, which a beneficent
Providence has kindly placed within their power.
It may be confidently asserted, that nothing has occurred
since the adjournment of Congress, which renders
inexpedient those precautionary measures recommended by me
to the consideration of the two Houses, at the opening of
your late extraordinary session. If that system was then
prudent, it is more so now, as increasing depredations
strengthen the reasons for its adoption.
Indeed, whatever may be the issue of the negotiation with
France, and whether the war in Europe is or is not to
continue, I hold it most certain that perfect tranquillity
and order will not soon be obtained. The state of society
has so long been disturbed; the sense of moral and
religious obligations so much weakened; public faith and
national honor have been so impaired; respect to treaties
has been so diminished, and the law of nations has lost so
much of its force; while pride, ambition, avarice, and
violence, have been so long unrestrained, there remains no
reasonable ground on which to raise an expectation, that a
commerce, without protection or defence, will not be
plundered.
The commerce of the United States is essential, if not to
their existence, at least to their comfort, their growth,
prosperity, and happiness. The genius, character, and
habits of the people are highly commercial; their cities
have been founded, and exist, upon commerce; our
agriculture, fisheries, arts, and manufactures, are
connected with and depend upon it; in short, commerce has
made this country what it is, and it cannot be destroyed or
neglected without involving the people in poverty and
distress; great numbers are directly and solely supported
by navigation--the faith of society is pledged for the
preservation of the rights of commercial, and seafaring, no
less than of the other citizens. Under this view of our
affairs, I should hold myself guilty of a neglect of duty,
if I forbore to recommend that we should make every
exertion to protect our commerce, and to place our country
in a suitable posture of defence, as the only sure means of
preserving both.
I have entertained an expectation, that it would have been
in my power, at the opening of this session, to have
communicated to you the agreeable information of the due
execution of our treaty with His Catholic Majesty,
respecting the withdrawing of his troops from our
territory, and the demarkation of the line of limits; but
by the latest authentic intelligence, Spanish garrisons
were still continued within the limits of our country, and
the running of the boundary line had not been commenced.
These circumstances are the more to be regretted, as they
cannot fail to affect the Indians in a manner injurious to
the United States; still, however, indulging the hope that
the answers which have been given, will remove the
objections offered by the Spanish officers to the immediate
execution of the treaty, I have judged it proper that we
should continue in readiness to receive the posts, and to
run the line of limits. Further information on this subject
will be communicated in the course of the session.
In connection with the unpleasant state of things on our
western frontier, it is proper for me to mention the
attempts of foreign agents to alienate the affections of
the Indian nations, and to excite them to actual
hostilities against the United States; great activity has
been exerted by these persons, who have insinuated
themselves among the Indian tribes, residing within the
territory of the United States, to influence them, to
transfer their affections and force to a foreign nation, to
form them into a confederacy, and prepare them for war,
against the United States.
Although measures have been taken to counteract these
infractions of our rights, to prevent Indian hostilities,
and to preserve their attachment to the United States, it
is my duty to observe, that, to give a better effect to
these measures, and to obviate the consequences of a
repetition of such practices, a law, providing adequate
punishment for such offences, may be necessary.
The Commissioners appointed under the fifth article of the
Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, between the
United States and Great Britain, to ascertain the river,
which was truly intended, under the name of the St. Croix,
mentioned in the Treaty of Peace, met at Passamaquoddy Bay
in October, 1796, and viewed the mouths of the rivers in
question, and the adjacent shores and islands; and being
of opinion, that actual surveys of both rivers to their
sources, were necessary, gave the agents of the two nations
instructions for that purpose, and adjourned to meet at
Boston in August; they met; but the surveys, requiring more
time than had been supposed, and not being then completed,
the Commissioners again adjourned to meet at Providence, in
the State of Rhode Island, in June next, when we may expect
a final examination and decision.
The Commissioners appointed in pursuance of the sixth
article of the treaty, met at Philadelphia in May last, to
examine the claims of British subjects, for debts
contracted before the peace, and still remaining due to
them, from citizens or inhabitants of the United States.
Various causes have hitherto prevented any determinations;
but the business is now resumed, and doubtless will be
prosecuted without interruption.
Several decisions on the claims of the citizens of the
United States, for losses, and damages, sustained by reason
of irregular and illegal captures, or condemnations, of
their vessels or other property, have been made by the
Commissioners in London, conformably to the seventh article
of the treaty; the sums awarded by the Commissioners have
been paid by the British Government; a considerable number
of other claims, where costs and damages, and not captured
property, were the only objects in question, have been
decided by arbitration, and the sums awarded to the
citizens of the United States have also been paid.
The Commissioners appointed agreeably to the 21st article
of our Treaty with Spain, met at Philadelphia in the summer
past, to examine and decide on the claims of our citizens
for losses they have sustained in consequence of their
vessels and cargoes having been taken by the subjects of
His Catholic Majesty, during the late war between Spain and
France; their sittings have been interrupted, but are now
resumed.
The United States being obligated to make compensation for
the losses and damages sustained by British subjects, upon
the award of the Commissioners acting under the sixth
article of the Treaty with Great Britain, and for the
losses and damages sustained by British subjects, by reason
of the capture of their vessels and merchandise, taken
within the limits and jurisdiction of the United States,
and brought into their ports, or taken by vessels
originally armed in ports of the United States, upon the
awards of the Commissioners acting under the seventh
article of the same treaty, it is necessary that provision
be made for fulfilling these obligations.
The numerous captures of American vessels by cruisers of
the French Republic, and of some by those of Spain, have
occasioned considerable expenses, in making and supporting
the claims of our citizens before their tribunals. The sums
required for this purpose have, in divers instances, been
disbursed by the Consuls of the United States; by means of
the same captures, great numbers of our seamen have been
thrown ashore in foreign countries, destitute of all means
of subsistence, and the sick, in particular, have been
exposed to grievous suffering.
The Consuls have, in these cases also, advanced moneys for
their relief; for these advances they reasonably expect
reimbursements from the United States. The Consular act
relative to seamen requires revision and amendment; the
provisions for their support in foreign countries, and for
their return, are found to be inadequate, and ineffectual.
Another provision seems necessary to be added to the
Consular act; some foreign vessels have been discovered
sailing under the flag of the United States, and with
forged papers. It seldom happens that the Consuls can
detect this deception, because they have no authority to
demand an inspection of the registers and sea letters.
_Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_:
It is my duty to recommend to your serious consideration
those objects which, by the constitution, are placed
particularly within your sphere--the national debt and
taxes.
Since the decay of the feudal system, by which the public
defence was provided for, chiefly at the expense of
individuals, a system of loans has been introduced. And as
no nation can raise, within the year, by taxes, sufficient
sums for its defence, and military operations in time of
war, the sums loaned and debts contracted have necessarily
become the subjects of what have been called funding
systems. The consequences arising from the continued
accumulation of public debts in other countries, ought to
admonish us to be careful to prevent their growth in our
own. The national defence must be provided for as well as
the support of Government; but both should be accomplished,
as much as possible, by immediate taxes, and as little as
possible by loans. The estimates for the services for the
ensuing year will, by my direction, be laid before you.
_Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of
Representatives_:
We are met together at a most interesting period; the
situations of the principal powers of Europe are singular
and portentous: connected with some by treaties and with
all by commerce, no important event there can be
indifferent to us; such circumstances call with peculiar
importunity, not less for a disposition to unite in all
those measures on which the honor, safety, and prosperity
of our country depend, than for all the exertions of wisdom
and firmness.
In all such measures you may rely on my zealous and hearty
concurrence.