P. S. Your having abstained from fulfilling your intimation
that you would expose your prisoners to the enemy's fire, is
highly approved.
JESSE D. ELLIOTT, Esq.,
_Lieut. Commanding, Black Rock._
TUESDAY, January 26.
_Honors to Hull. Decatur, Jones, and Elliott._
The amendment to the joint resolution relative to the brilliant
achievements of Captains Hull, Decatur, and Jones, having been reported
by the committee correctly engrossed, the resolution was read a third
time as amended; and the title thereof was amended, to read as follows:
"A resolution relative to the brilliant achievements of Captains Hull,
Decatur, Jones, and Lieutenant Elliott."
_Resolved_, That this resolution pass with amendments.
FRIDAY February 5.
JAMES BROWN, appointed a Senator by the State of Louisiana, in the
place of John Noel Detrehan, resigned, produced his credentials, was
qualified, and took his seat in the Senate.
TUESDAY, February 9.
The credentials of CHAUNCEY GOODRICH, appointed a Senator by the
Legislature of the State of Connecticut for the term of six years,
commencing on the 4th day of March next, were read, and laid on file.
WEDNESDAY, February 10.
_Counting Electoral Votes._
A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that
the House agree to the report of the joint committee appointed to
ascertain and report a mode of examining the votes for President and
Vice President of the United States, and of notifying the persons
elected of their election, and have appointed Messrs. MACON and
TALLMADGE, tellers, on their part.
_Ordered_, That Mr. FRANKLIN be appointed a teller of the ballots for
President and Vice President of the United States, on the part of the
Senate, in place of Mr. GAILLARD, absent from indisposition.
A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that
the House is now ready to attend the Senate in opening the certificates
and counting the votes of the Electors of the several States, in the
choice of a President and Vice President of the United States, in
pursuance of the resolution of the two Houses of Congress; and that the
President of the Senate will be introduced to the Speaker's Chair, by
the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The two Houses of Congress, agreeably to the joint resolution,
assembled in the Representatives' Chamber, and the certificates of the
Electors of the several States were, by the President of the Senate,
opened and delivered to the tellers appointed for the purpose, who,
having examined and ascertained the number of votes, presented a list
thereof to the President of the Senate, which was read, as follows:
--------------------------------------------------------------+
| President. | Vice President. |
States. +----------+----------+----------+----------+
| James | De Witt | Elbridge | Jared |
| Madison. | Clinton. | Gerry. |Ingersoll.|
------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
New Hampshire | - | 8 | 1 | 7 |
Massachusetts | - | 22 | 2 | 20 |
Rhode Island | - | 4 | - | 4 |
Connecticut | - | 9 | - | 9 |
Vermont | 8 | - | 8 | - |
New York | - | 29 | - | 29 |
New Jersey | - | 8 | - | 8 |
Pennsylvania | 25 | - | 25 | - |
Delaware | - | 4 | - | 4 |
Maryland | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
Virginia | 25 | - | 25 | - |
North Carolina | 15 | - | 15 | - |
South Carolina | 11 | - | 11 | - |
Georgia | 8 | - | 8 | - |
Kentucky | 12 | - | 12 | - |
Tennessee | 8 | - | 8 | - |
Ohio | 7 | - | 7 | - |
Louisiana | 3 | - | 3 | - |
------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
Totals | 128 | 89 | 131 | 86 |
------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
The whole number of votes being 217, of which 109 makes a majority;
JAMES MADISON had for President of the United States 128 votes, and
ELBRIDGE GERRY had for Vice President of the United States 131 votes:
Whereupon, the President of the Senate declared JAMES MADISON elected
President of the United States, for four years, commencing with the
fourth day of March next, and ELBRIDGE GERRY, Vice President of the
United States, for four years, commencing on the fourth day of March
next.
The votes of the Electors were then delivered to the Secretary of the
Senate; the two Houses of Congress separated, and the Senate returned
to their own Chamber; and, on motion, adjourned.
THURSDAY, February 11.
_Vice President Elect._
On motion, by Mr. FRANKLIN,
_Resolved_, That the President of the United States be requested to
cause to be transmitted to ELBRIDGE GERRY, Esq., of Massachusetts, Vice
President elect of the United States, notification of his election to
that office, and that the President of the Senate do make and sign a
certificate in the words following, to wit:
"_Be it enacted_, That the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America, being convened at the city
of Washington, on the second Wednesday of February, in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirteen, the
underwritten President of the Senate, pro tempore, did, in the
presence of the said Senate and House of Representatives,
open all the certificates and count all the votes of the
Electors for a President and Vice President of the United
States; whereupon it appeared that JAMES MADISON, of Virginia,
had a majority of the votes of the Electors as President,
and ELBRIDGE GERRY, of Massachusetts, had a majority of the
votes of the Electors as Vice President; by all which it
appears that JAMES MADISON, of Virginia, has been duly elected
President, and ELBRIDGE GERRY, of Massachusetts, has been duly
elected Vice President of the United States, agreeably to the
constitution.
"In witness whereof, I have herewith set my hand and caused the
seal of the Senate to be affixed, this ---- day of February,
1813."
And that the President of the Senate do cause the certificates
aforesaid to be laid before the President of the United States, with
this resolution.
MONDAY, February 22.
_Capture and Destruction of the Java._
The following Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES:
_To the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States_:
I lay before Congress a letter, with accompanying documents,
from Captain Bainbridge, now commanding the United States'
frigate, the Constitution, reporting his capture and
destruction of the British frigate, the Java. The circumstances
and the issue of this combat, afford another example of the
professional skill and heroic spirit which prevail in our naval
service. The signal display of both, by Captain Bainbridge, his
officers, and crew, command the highest praise.
This being a second instance in which the condition of the
captured ship, by rendering it impossible to get her into
port, has barred a contemplated reward of successful valor,
I recommend to the consideration of Congress the equity and
propriety of a general provision, allowing, in such cases, both
past and future, a fair proportion of the value which would
accrue to the captors, on the safe arrival and sale of the
prize.