The message and document therein referred to were in part read, and
ordered to lie for consideration.
_Purchase of Florida._
A confidential message from the House of Representatives, by Messrs.
BIDWELL and EARLY, two of their members, as follows:
Mr. PRESIDENT: We are directed by the House of Representatives, in
confidence, to bring to the Senate a bill, entitled “An act making
provision for defraying any extraordinary expenses attending the
intercourse between the United States and foreign nations;” in which they
request the concurrence of the Senate.
The bill was read and passed to the second reading.
_Ordered_, That the message and bill last read, be considered
confidential, and that secrecy be observed by the members and officers of
the Senate.
FRIDAY, January 24.
JAMES A. BAYARD, appointed a Senator for the State of Delaware, for the
term of six years, commencing on the fourth of March last, produced his
credentials, which were read; and, the oath prescribed by law having been
administered, he took his seat in the Senate.
FRIDAY, January 31.
_Purchase of Florida._
The third reading of the bill, entitled “An act making provision for
defraying any extraordinary expenses attending the intercourse between
the United States and foreign nations,” was resumed; and, on the question
to amend the bill, as follows: After the words “United States,” sec. 1,
insert “for the purpose of obtaining by negotiation, or otherwise, as he
may deem most expedient, the free navigation of the river St. Lawrence,
as His Britannic Majesty’s territory, lying south and east thereof, or
any other territory lying east of the Mississippi, and south of the
aforesaid river St. Lawrence not owned or possessed by citizens of the
United States.”
It was determined in the negative--yeas 10, nays 21, as follows:
YEAS.--Messrs. Adams, Bayard, Bradley, Hillhouse, Pickering, Plumer,
Smith of Vermont, Tracy, White, and Wright.
NAYS.--Messrs. Adair, Anderson, Baldwin, Condit, Fenner, Gaillard,
Gilman, Howland, Kitchel, Logan, Maclay, Mitchill, Moore, Smith of
Maryland, Smith of New York, Smith of Ohio, Smith of Tennessee, Sumter,
Thruston, Turner, and Worthington.
WEDNESDAY, February 5.
The PRESIDENT laid before the Senate the report of the Commissioners of
the Sinking Fund, stating that the measures which have been authorized
by the Board subsequent to their report of 5th February, 1805, so far as
the same have been completed, are fully detailed in the report of the
Secretary of the Treasury to the Board, dated the 4th of the present
month; and in the statements therein referred to, which are herewith
transmitted, and prayed to be considered as part of the report. And the
report was read, and ordered to lie for consideration.
Mr. SMITH of Maryland, from the committee appointed the 15th of January
last, on that part of the Message of the President of the United States
which relates to the spoliation of our commerce on the high seas, and
informs us of new principles assumed by the British Courts of Admiralty,
as a pretext for the condemnation of our vessels in their prize
courts, made report, and the report was read, and ordered to lie for
consideration.