FRIDAY, February 22.
The bill freeing from postage all letters and packets to and from AARON
BURR, was read the second time.
SATURDAY, February 23.
Mr. LOGAN gave notice that he should, on Monday next, ask leave to bring
in a bill to prohibit the granting clearances to vessels bound to St.
Domingo.
MONDAY, February 25.
_Commodore Preble._
Mr. JACKSON laid on the table a motion expressive of the high sense
Congress entertain of the gallant and meritorious services of Commodore
Edward Preble, and the officers, seamen, and marines, under his command;
and the motion was read; and it was agreed that it be referred to a
select committee.
WEDNESDAY, February 27.
_Franking Privilege to Aaron Burr._
The Senate resumed the second reading of the bill freeing from postage
all letters and packets to and from AARON BURR; and, on the question,
Shall this bill pass to the third reading? it was determined in the
affirmative--yeas 18, nays 9, as follows:
YEAS.--Messrs. Adams, Baldwin, Bradley, Breckenridge, Brown,
Cocke, Condit, Dayton, Franklin, Gaillard, Giles, Jackson,
Mitchill, Moore, Smith of Maryland, Smith of Ohio, Smith of
Vermont, and Wright.
NAYS.--Messrs. Ellery, Hillhouse, Howland, Logan, Olcott,
Pickering, Plumer, Sumter, and Worthington.[15]
THURSDAY, February 28.
The VICE PRESIDENT being indisposed, the Senate proceeded to the choice
of a President _pro tempore_ as the constitution provides, and the Hon.
JOSEPH ANDERSON was elected.
_Ordered_, That the Secretary wait on the President of the United States,
and acquaint him that, the VICE PRESIDENT being absent, the Senate have
elected the Hon. JOSEPH ANDERSON President of the Senate _pro tempore_.
_Ordered_, That the Secretary make a like communication to the House of
Representatives.
The following Messages were received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES:
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States_:
I now lay before Congress a statement of the militia of the
United States, according to the returns last received from the
several States. It will be perceived that some of these are not
recent dates, and that from the States of Maryland, Delaware,
and Tennessee, no returns are stated. As far as appears from
our records, none were ever rendered from either of these
States.