The Message and documents were read, and ordered to be printed for the
use of the Senate.
A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate, that
the House, having finished the business before them, are about to
adjourn.
Mr. ROBINSON, from the committee, reported that they had waited on
the President of the United States, who informed them that he had no
further communications to make to the two Houses of Congress.
_Ordered_: That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives that
the Senate, having finished the legislative business before them, are
about to adjourn.
Agreeably to the joint resolution, the PRESIDENT then adjourned the
Senate, to meet on the first Monday in November next.
_Executive Proceedings._
[Confidential.]
SATURDAY, June 20, 1812.
A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. HARPER and Mr.
FISK, two of their members--Mr. HARPER, chairman.
_Mr. President_: The House of Representatives have passed a "resolution
authorizing the President of the United States to issue a proclamation
to the inhabitants of the British American Continental Provinces," in
which they request the concurrence of the Senate.
The resolution was read, as follows:
_Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America, in Congress assembled_, That in
case it shall be deemed necessary, in order to vindicate the
just rights, or to secure the safety of the United States, to
invade the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, Nova Scotia,
and New Brunswick, or either of them, the President of the
United States be, and he hereby is authorized and empowered
to issue a proclamation, addressed to the inhabitants of said
provinces, assuring them, in the name of the people of these
States, that in case the said provinces, or any of them, shall
come into the possession of this Government, the inhabitants
of such province or provinces shall be secured and protected
in the full enjoyment of their lives, liberty, property, and
religion, in as full and ample manner as the same are secured
to the people of the United States by their constitutions; and
that the said proclamation be promulgated and circulated, in
the manner which, in the opinion of the President, shall be
best calculated to give it general publicity.
_Ordered_, That the resolution pass to a second reading.
FRIDAY, June 26.
_Occupation of the Floridas._
A message from the House of Representatives by Messrs. MITCHILL and
HALL, two of their members.
_Mr. President_: The House of Representatives have passed a bill,
entitled "An act authorizing the President to take possession of a
tract of country lying south of the Mississippi Territory and of the
State of Georgia, and for other purposes," in which they request
the concurrence of the Senate, and that the bill be considered
confidentially.
The bill last brought up for concurrence was read, as follows:
"An Act authorizing the President to take possession of a tract
of country lying south of the Mississippi Territory and of the
State of Georgia, and for other purposes.
"_Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled_: That the
President be, and he is hereby authorized to occupy and hold,
the whole or any part of East Florida, including Amelia Island,
and also those parts of West Florida which are not now in
possession and under the jurisdiction of the United States.
"SEC. 2. _And be it further enacted_: That, for the purpose of
occupying and holding the country aforesaid, and of affording
protection to the inhabitants, under the authority of the
United States, the President may employ such parts of the
military and naval force of the United States as he may deem
necessary.
"SEC. 3. _And be it further enacted_: That, for defraying the
necessary expenses, one hundred thousand dollars are hereby
appropriated, to be paid out of any moneys in the Treasury
not otherwise appropriated, and to be applied to the purposes
aforesaid, under the direction of the President.
"SEC. 4. _And be it further enacted_: That, until further
provision shall be made by Congress, the President shall be,
and he hereby is empowered to establish within the country he
may acquire by this act, a temporary government, the civil
and military authorities of which shall be vested in such
person and persons as he may appoint, and be exercised in such
manner as he may direct: _Provided_: That he shall take due
care for the preservation of social order, and for securing to
the inhabitants the enjoyment of their personal rights, their
religion, and their property: _And provided, also_: That the
section of country herein designated, that is situated to the
Eastward of the river Perdido, may be the subject of further
negotiation."
_Ordered_: That it pass to a second reading.
THURSDAY, July 2.
Agreeably to the order of the day, the bill, entitled "An act
authorizing the President to take possession of a tract of country
lying south of the Mississippi Territory and of the State of Georgia,
and for other purposes," was resumed, and considered as in Committee of
the Whole; and Mr. GAILLARD was requested to take the Chair.
On motion by Mr. CRAWFORD, he was permitted to amend his motion, made
yesterday, as follows:
"_And be it further enacted_: That if the United States, in
the prosecution of the present war against the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, should obtain possession of
the British provinces in North America, or either of them,
that the President of the United States be, and he is hereby
authorized and empowered to establish within the same a
temporary government; and the military, civil, and judicial
powers thereof, shall be vested in such person and persons,
and be exercised in such manner as he may direct, for the
protection and maintenance of the inhabitants of such province
or provinces, in the full enjoyment of their property, liberty,
and religion: _Provided_: That the principles upon which such
temporary government shall be established, shall form no
obstacle to the restoration of peace between the two nations."
And, on motion to agree to the amendment, it was determined in the
affirmative--yeas 20, nays 10, as follows:
YEAS.--Messrs. Anderson, Bibb, Bradley, Brent, Campbell of
Tennessee, Condit, Crawford, Cutts, Franklin, Gaillard, Giles,
Howell, Leib, Pope, Robinson, Tait, Taylor, Turner, Varnum, and
Worthington.
NAYS.--Messrs. Bayard, German, Gilman, Goodrich, Horsey,
Hunter, Lambert, Lloyd, Smith of Maryland, and Smith of New
York.
On motion, by Mr. TAIT, to amend the bill as follows:
"_And be it further enacted_: That this act be not printed or
published, unless directed by the President of the United States; any
law or usage to the contrary notwithstanding."
On the question to agree to this amendment, it was determined in the
affirmative--yeas 23, nays 7, as follows:
YEAS.--Messrs. Anderson, Bayard, Bibb, Bradley, Brent, Campbell
of Tennessee, Condit, Crawford, Cutts, Franklin, Gaillard,
Giles, Howell, Leib, Pope, Robinson, Smith of Maryland, Smith
of New York, Tait, Taylor, Turner, Varnum, and Worthington.
NAYS.--Messrs. German, Gilman, Goodrich, Horsey, Hunter,
Lambert, and Lloyd.
The President resumed the Chair, and Mr. GAILLARD reported the bill,
amended.
On the question: Shall this bill pass to a third reading, as amended?
it was determined in the affirmative--yeas 15, nays 13, as follows:
YEAS.--Messrs. Anderson, Bibb, Brent, Campbell of Tennessee,
Condit, Crawford, Gaillard, Howell, Leib, Robinson, Tait,
Taylor, Turner, Varnum, and Worthington.
NAYS.--Messrs. Bayard, Dana, Franklin, German, Gilman,
Goodrich, Horsey, Hunter, Lambert, Lloyd, Pope, Smith of
Maryland, and Smith of New York.
FRIDAY, July 3.
The amendments to the bill, entitled "An act authorizing the President
to take possession of a tract of country lying south of the Mississippi
Territory and of the State of Georgia, and for other purposes," were
reported by the committee correctly engrossed; and the bill was read
the third time, as amended.
On motion, by Mr. BAYARD, to postpone the further consideration
thereof to the first Monday in November next; it was determined in the
negative--yeas 14, nays 16, as follows:
YEAS.--Messrs. Bayard, Bradley, Dana, German, Giles, Gilman,
Goodrich, Horsey, Hunter, Lambert, Lloyd, Pope, Smith of
Maryland, and Smith of New York.
NAYS.--Messrs. Anderson, Bibb, Brent, Campbell of Tennessee,
Condit, Crawford, Franklin, Gaillard, Howell, Leib, Robinson,
Tait, Taylor, Turner, Varnum, and Worthington.
On the question, Shall this bill pass as amended? it was determined in
the negative--yeas 14, nays 16, as follows:
YEAS.--Messrs. Anderson, Bibb, Brent, Campbell of Tennessee,
Condit, Crawford, Franklin, Gaillard, Robinson, Tait, Taylor,
Turner, Varnum, and Worthington.
NAYS.--Messrs. Bayard, Bradley, Dana, German, Giles, Gilman,
Goodrich, Horsey, Howell, Hunter, Lambert, Leib, Lloyd, Pope,
Smith of Maryland, and Smith of New York.
So it was _Resolved_, That the Senate do not concur in the said bill.