MONDAY, December 3, 1798.
This being the day appointed by the constitution for the annual meeting
of Congress, a number of members of the House of Representatives
assembled in their Chamber.
The following are the names of the members present:
_From New Hampshire._--ABIEL FOSTER, JONATHAN FREEMAN, WILLIAM GORDON,
and PELEG SPRAGUE.
_From Massachusetts._--DWIGHT FOSTER, SAMUEL LYMAN, HARRISON G. OTIS,
GEO. THATCHER, JOSEPH B. VARNUM, and PELEG WADSWORTH.
_From Rhode Island._--THOMAS TILLINGHAST.
_From Connecticut._--SAMUEL W. DANA, CHAUNCEY GOODRICH, and ROGER
GRISWOLD.
_From New York._--DAVID BROOKS, HENRY GLENN, JONATHAN N. HAVENS, and
HEZEKIAH L. HOSMER.
_From New Jersey._--JONATHAN DAYTON, (the Speaker.)
_From Pennsylvania._--DAVID BARD, JOHN CHAPMAN, WILLIAM FINDLAY, ALBERT
GALLATIN, JOHN A. HANNA, BLAIR MCCLENACHAN, and RICHARD THOMAS.
_From Maryland._--GEORGE DENT.
_From Virginia._--JOHN CLOPTON, JOHN DAWSON, DAVID HOLMES, JAMES MACHIR,
and DANIEL MORGAN.
_From North Carolina._--MATTHEW LOCKE, NATHANIEL MACON, and RICHARD
STANFORD.
_From Tennessee._--WILLIAM CHARLES COLE CLAIBORNE.
_From Georgia._--ABRAHAM BALDWIN.
Three new members, to wit: JONATHAN BRACE, returned to serve in this
House as a member for Connecticut, in the room of Joshua Coit, deceased;
ROBERT WALN, returned to serve as a member for Pennsylvania, in the room
of John Swanwick, deceased; and JOSEPH EGGLESTON, returned to serve as a
member for Virginia, in the room of William B. Giles, who has resigned
his seat; appeared, produced their credentials, and took their seats in
the House.
A little after 12 o'clock the SPEAKER of the House took his chair, the
names of all the members were called over by the Clerk, and there
appearing only forty persons, (fourteen short of a quorum,) a motion was
made to adjourn, and the House adjourned accordingly till to-morrow at
11 o'clock.
TUESDAY, December 4.
Several other members, to wit: from Massachusetts, STEPHEN BULLOCK; from
New Jersey, JAMES H. IMLAY; from Pennsylvania, JOHN WILKES KITTERA; from
Maryland, GEORGE BAER, Jr., WILLIAM CRAIK, and SAMUEL SMITH; from
Virginia, ANTHONY NEW, ABRAM TRIGG, JOHN TRIGG, and ABRAHAM VENABLE;
from North Carolina, THOMAS BLOUNT; and from South Carolina, WILLIAM
SMITH; appeared and took their seats in the House.
A new member, to wit: ROBERT BROWN, returned to serve in this House as a
member for Pennsylvania, in the room of Samuel Sitgreaves, appointed a
Commissioner of the United States under the sixth article of the Treaty
of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, with Great Britain, appeared, and
took his seat in the House.
But a quorum of the whole number not being present, the House adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, December 5.
Several other members, to wit: from Massachusetts, ISAAC PARKER, JOHN
READ, SAMUEL SEWALL, and WILLIAM SHEPARD; from Connecticut, NATHANIEL
SMITH; from New York, LUCAS ELMENDORPH, JOHN E. VAN ALLEN, and JOHN
WILLIAMS; from New Jersey, JAMES SCHUREMAN; and from South Carolina,
ROBERT GOODLOE HARPER and JOHN RUTLEDGE, Jr., appeared, and took their
seats in the House.
And a quorum consisting of a majority of the whole number, being
present,
The oath or affirmation, to support the Constitution of the United
States, as prescribed by the act, entitled "An act to regulate the time
and manner of administering certain oaths," was administered by Mr.
SPEAKER to the following new members, to wit: JONATHAN BRACE, ROBERT
BROWN, ROBERT WALN, and JOSEPH EGGLESTON, who took their seats in the
House on the third and fourth instant.
_Ordered_, That a message be sent to the Senate to inform them that a
quorum of this House is assembled, and ready to proceed to business.
SATURDAY, December 8.
Several other members, to wit: from Connecticut, WILLIAM EDMOND; from
Maryland, JOHN DENNIS and WILLIAM HINDMAN; and from Virginia, THOMAS
EVANS and WALTER JONES, appeared and took their seats in the House.
The House having been called to order, and the journal read, the SPEAKER
observed that the hour was nearly arrived at which the President had
proposed to make his communications to both Houses, and read a
resolution which was usually entered into on such occasions, informing
the Senate that this House is formed, and ready to receive any
communications which the President may be pleased to make to them. The
resolution was adopted, and a message having been sent to the Senate
therewith, the members soon after entered and took the places prepared
for them.
At twelve o'clock, Lieutenant General WASHINGTON, with his Secretary,
Colonel LEAR, Major Generals PINCKNEY and HAMILTON, entered the Hall,
and took their places on the right of the SPEAKER'S chair. The British
and Portuguese Ministers, and the British and Danish Consuls, with their
Secretaries, had their places assigned them on the left of the chair.
_President's Speech._
A few minutes after 12, the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, accompanied
by his Secretary, and the Heads of the several Departments of the
Government, appeared. The PRESIDENT having taken his seat, and the
officers of Government theirs, near the general officers, he rose and
addressed the two Houses as follows:
_Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of
Representatives:_
While with reverence and resignation we contemplate the
dispensations of Divine Providence, in the alarming and
destructive pestilence with which several of our cities and
towns have been visited, there is cause for gratitude and
mutual congratulations that the malady has disappeared, and
that we are again permitted to assemble in safety at the
seat of Government, for the discharge of our important
duties. But, when we reflect that this fatal disorder has,
within a few years, made repeated ravages in some of our
principal seaports, and with increased malignancy; and,
when we consider the magnitude of the evils arising from
the interruption of public and private business, whereby
the national interests are deeply affected, I think it my
duty to invite the Legislature of the Union to examine the
expediency of establishing suitable regulations in aid of
the health laws of the respective States; for, these being
formed on the idea that contagious sickness may be
communicated through the channels of commerce, there seems
to be a necessity that Congress, who alone can regulate
trade, should frame a system which, while it may tend to
preserve the general health, may be compatible with the
interests of commerce and the safety of the revenue.
While we think on this calamity, and sympathize with the
immediate sufferers, we have abundant reason to present to
the Supreme Being our annual oblations of gratitude for a
liberal participation in the ordinary blessings of His
Providence. To the usual subjects of gratitude, I cannot
omit to add one of the first importance to our well-being
and safety: I mean that spirit which has arisen in our
country against the menaces and aggression of a foreign
nation. A manly sense of national honor, dignity, and
independence, has appeared, which, if encouraged and
invigorated by every branch of the Government, will enable
us to view, undismayed, the enterprises of any foreign
power, and become the sure foundation of national
prosperity and glory.
The course of the transactions in relation to the United
States and France, which have come to my knowledge during
your recess, will be made the subject of a future
communication. That communication will confirm the ultimate
failure of the measures which have been taken by the
Government of the United States towards an amicable
adjustment of differences with that power. You will, at the
same time, perceive that the French Government appears
solicitous to impress the opinion that it is averse to a
rupture with this country, and that it has, in a qualified
manner, declared itself willing to receive a Minister from
the United States, for the purpose of restoring a good
understanding. It is unfortunate for professions of this
kind that they should be expressed in terms which may
countenance the inadmissible pretension of a right to
prescribe the qualifications which a Minister of the United
States should possess; and that while France is asserting
the existence of a disposition, on her part, to conciliate
with sincerity the differences which have arisen, the
sincerity of a like disposition on the part of the United
States, of which so many demonstrative proofs have been
given, should even be indirectly questioned. It is also
worthy of observation that the decree of the Directory,
alleged to be intended to restrain the depredations of
French cruisers on our commerce, has not given, and cannot
give, any relief; it enjoins them to conform to all the
laws of France relative to cruising and prizes, while these
laws are themselves the sources of the depredation of which
we have so long, so justly, and so fruitlessly complained.
The law of France enacted in January last, which subjects
to capture and condemnation neutral vessels and their
cargoes, if any portion of the latter are of British fabric
or produce, although the entire property belongs to
neutrals, instead of being rescinded, has lately received a
confirmation, by the failure of a proposition for its
repeal. While this law, which is an unequivocal act of war
on the commerce of the nations it attacks, continues in
force, those nations can see in the French Government only
a power regardless of their essential rights, of their
independence and sovereignty; and, if they possess the
means, they can reconcile nothing with their interests and
honor but a firm resistance.
Hitherto, therefore, nothing is discoverable in the conduct
of France which ought to change or relax our measures of
defence; on the contrary, to extend and invigorate them is
our true policy. We have no reason to regret that these
measures have been thus far adopted and pursued; and, in
proportion as we enlarge our view of the portentous and
incalculable situation of Europe, we shall discover new and
cogent motives for the full development of our energies and
resources.
But, in demonstrating by our conduct that we do not fear
war, in the necessary protection of our rights and honor,
we shall give no room to infer that we abandon the desire
of peace. An efficient preparation for war can alone ensure
peace. It is peace that we have uniformly and perseveringly
cultivated, and harmony between us and France may be
restored at her option. But to send another Minister,
without more determinate assurances that he would be
received, would be an act of humiliation to which the
United States ought not to submit. It must, therefore, be
left to France, if she is indeed desirous of accommodation,
to take the requisite steps. The United States will
steadily observe the maxims by which they have hitherto
been governed. They will respect the sacred rites of
embassy. And with a sincere disposition on the part of
France to desist from hostility, to make reparation for the
injuries heretofore inflicted on our commerce, and to do
justice in future, there will be no obstacle to the
restoration of a friendly intercourse. In making to you
this declaration, I give a pledge to France and to the
world that the Executive authority of this country still
adheres to the humane and pacific policy which has
invariably governed its proceedings, in conformity with the
wishes of the other branches of the Government and of the
people of the United States. But considering the late
manifestations of her policy towards foreign nations, I
deem it a duty deliberately and solemnly to declare my
opinion, that, whether we negotiate with her or not,
vigorous preparations for war will be alike indispensable.
These alone will give to us an equal treaty, and ensure its
observance.
Among the measures of preparation which appear expedient, I
take the liberty to recall your attention to the Naval
Establishment. The beneficial effects of the small naval
armament provided under the acts of the last session, are
known and acknowledged. Perhaps no country ever experienced
more sudden and remarkable advantages from any measure of
policy than we have derived from the arming for our
maritime protection and defence. We ought, without loss of
time, to lay the foundation for an increase of our Navy to
a size sufficient to guard our coast, and protect our
trade. Such a naval force as it is doubtless in the power
of the United States to create and maintain, would also
afford to them the best means of general defence, the safe
transportation of troops and stores to every part of our
extensive coast. To accomplish this important object, a
prudent foresight requires that systematical measures be
adopted for procuring, at all times, the requisite timber
and other supplies. In what manner this shall be done, I
leave to your consideration.
_Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:_
I have directed an estimate of the appropriations which
will be necessary for the service of the ensuing year to be
laid before you, accompanied with a view of the public
receipts and expenditures to a recent period. It will
afford you satisfaction to infer the great extent and
solidity of the public resources, from the prosperous state
of the finances, notwithstanding the unexampled
embarrassments which have attended commerce. When you
reflect on the conspicuous examples of a patriotism and
liberality which have been exhibited by our mercantile
fellow-citizens, and how great a proportion of the public
resources depends on their enterprise, you will naturally
consider, whether their convenience cannot be promoted and
reconciled with the security of the revenue, by a revision
of the system by which the collection is at present
regulated.
During your recess, measures have been steadily pursued for
effecting the valuations and returns directed by the act of
the last session preliminary to the assessment and
collection of a direct tax. No other delays or obstacles
have been experienced except such as were expected to arise
from the great extent of our country, and the magnitude and
novelty of the operation, and enough has been accomplished
to assure a fulfilment of the views of the Legislature.
_Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of
Representatives:_
I cannot close this Address, without once more adverting to
our political situation, and inculcating the essential
importance of uniting in the maintenance of our dearest
interests: and I trust that, by the temper and wisdom of
your proceedings, and by a harmony of measures, we shall
secure to our country that weight and respect to which it
is so justly entitled.