UNITED STATES, _December 10_.
And then the House adjourned till to-morrow morning, 11 o'clock.
WEDNESDAY, December 11.
HENRY LEE, from Virginia, appeared, produced his credentials, was
qualified, and took his seat in the House.
_The Direct Tax Law._
Mr. HARPER said, that a difficulty had arisen in the State of
Pennsylvania, relative to the execution of the law "for the valuation of
lands and dwelling-houses, and for the enumeration of slaves, within the
United States," which the Commissioners for that State did not conceive
themselves competent to decide upon; that the Commissioners had referred
the case to the Secretary of the Treasury, whose opinion it was, that
they were possessed of sufficient power to obviate the difficulties
complained of; but the Commissioners, on again taking the subject into
consideration, were still of opinion they were unable to act without
legislative aid, and therefore had made application to the Committee of
Ways and Means, who, Mr. H. said, had directed him to move for leave to
bring in a bill, further to amend the act entitled "An act to provide
for the valuation of lands and dwelling-houses, and for the enumeration
of slaves within the United States," which was granted.
_Franking Privilege to W. H. Harrison._
Mr. HARPER laid the following resolution on the table.
_Resolved_, That a committee be appointed to prepare and
bring in a bill, extending the privilege of franking to W.
H. Harrison, a delegate from the territory of the United
States north-west of the river Ohio, and making provision
for his compensation.
Mr. H. said, that according to law, that gentleman had the right only of
speaking and giving his opinion upon any question before the House, but
was not entitled to a vote, or any other privilege; but as the
privileges of a member had been extended on a former occasion to a
delegate from the South-western Territory, he had no doubt they would be
granted on the present.
MONDAY, December 16.
THOMAS HARTLEY, from Pennsylvania, and JOSEPH EGGLESTON, from Virginia,
appeared, produced their credentials, were qualified, and took their
seats in the House.
WEDNESDAY, December 18.
_Death of General Washington._
Mr. MARSHALL, in a voice that bespoke the anguish of his mind, and a
countenance expressive of the deepest regret, rose, and delivered
himself as follows:
Mr. Speaker: Information has just been received, that our illustrious
fellow-citizen, the Commander-in-Chief of the American Army, and the
late President of the United States, is no more!
Though this distressing intelligence is not certain, there is too much
reason to believe its truth. After receiving information of this
national calamity, so heavy and so afflicting, the House of
Representatives can be but ill fitted for public business. I move you,
therefore, they adjourn.
The motion was unanimously agreed to; and then the House adjourned till
to-morrow morning, 11 o'clock.
THURSDAY, December 19.
SAMUEL GOODE, from Virginia, appeared, produced his credentials, was
qualified, and took his seat in the House.
_Death of General Washington._
Mr. MARSHALL addressed the Chair as follows:
Mr. Speaker: The melancholy event which was yesterday announced with
doubt, has been rendered but too certain. Our WASHINGTON is no more! The
Hero, the Sage, and the Patriot of America--the man on whom in times of
danger every eye was turned and all hopes were placed--lives now only in
his own great actions, and in the hearts of an affectionate and
afflicted people.
If, sir, it had even not been usual openly to testify respect for the
memory of those whom Heaven had selected as its instruments for
dispensing good to men, yet such has been the uncommon worth, and such
the extraordinary incidents which have marked the life of him whose loss
we all deplore, that the whole American nation, impelled by the same
feelings, would call with one voice for a public manifestation of that
sorrow which is so deep and so universal.
More than any other individual, and as much as to any one individual was
possible, has he contributed to found this our wide-spreading empire,
and to give to the Western world its independence and its freedom.
Having effected the great object for which he was placed at the head of
our armies, we have seen him converting the sword into the ploughshare,
and voluntarily sinking the soldier in the citizen.
When the debility of our federal system had become manifest, and the
bonds which connected the parts of this vast continent were dissolving,
we have seen him the Chief of those patriots who formed for us a
constitution, which, by preserving the Union, will, I trust,
substantiate and perpetuate those blessings our Revolution had promised
to bestow.
In obedience to the general voice of his country, calling on him to
preside over a great people, we have seen him once more quit the
retirement he loved, and in a season more stormy and tempestuous than
war itself, with calm and wise determination, pursue the true interests
of the nation, and contribute, more than any other could contribute, to
the establishment of that system of policy which will, I trust, yet
preserve our peace, our honor, and our independence.
Having been twice unanimously chosen the Chief Magistrate of a free
people, we see him at a time when his re-election, with the universal
suffrage, could not have been doubted, affording to the world a rare
instance of moderation, by withdrawing from his high station to the
peaceful walks of private life.
However the public confidence may change, and the public affections
fluctuate with respect to others, yet with respect to him they have in
war and in peace, in public and in private life, been as steady as his
own firm mind, and as constant as his own exalted virtues.
Let us then, Mr. Speaker, pay the last tribute of respect and affection
to our departed friend--let the Grand Council of the nation display
those sentiments which the nation feels.
For this purpose I hold in my hand some resolutions, which I will take
the liberty to offer to the House.
Mr. MARSHALL having handed them in at the table, they were read, and
unanimously agreed to by the House, in the words following, to wit:
The House of Representatives of the United States, having
received intelligence of the death of their highly valued
fellow-citizen, GEORGE WASHINGTON, General of the Armies of
the United States, and sharing the universal grief this
distressing event must produce, _unanimously resolve_:
1. That this House will wait on the President of the United
States, in condolence of this national calamity.
2. That the Speaker's chair be shrouded with black, and
that the members and officers of the House wear mourning,
during the session.
3. That a joint committee of both Houses be appointed to
report measures suitable to the occasion, and expressive of
the profound sorrow with which Congress is penetrated on
the loss of a citizen, first in war, first in peace, and
first in the hearts of his countrymen.
4. That when this House adjourn, it will adjourn until
Monday next.
_Ordered_, That Mr. MARSHALL and Mr. SMITH be appointed a committee to
wait on the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, to know when and where he
will receive this House for the purpose expressed in the first
resolution.
_Ordered_, That Mr. MARSHALL, Mr. CRAIK, Mr. HENRY LEE, Mr. EGGLESTON,
Mr. SMITH, Mr. STONE, Mr. RUTLEDGE, Mr. ABIEL FOSTER, Mr. MUHLENBERG,
Mr. VAN CORTLANDT, MR. DWIGHT FOSTER, Mr. FRANKLIN DAVENPORT, Mr.
CLAIBORNE, Mr. MORRIS, Mr. JOHN BROWN, and Mr. TALIAFERRO, be a
committee, jointly with such committee as may be appointed on the part
of the Senate, for the purpose expressed in the third resolution.
_Ordered_, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate
therewith.
A Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, which,
together with the letter accompanying the same, was read and referred to
the committee last appointed, and is as follows:
_Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of
Representatives_:
The letter herewith transmitted, will inform you that it
has pleased Divine Providence to remove from this life our
excellent fellow-citizen, GEORGE WASHINGTON, by the purity
of his character, and a long series of services to his
country, rendered illustrious through the world. It remains
for an affectionate and grateful people, in whose hearts he
can never die, to pay suitable honor to his memory.