_Ordered_, That the Message, and documents therein referred to, lie for
consideration; and that five hundred copies thereof be printed for the
use of the Senate.
FRIDAY, January 23.
_Suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus._
On the motion of Mr. GILES,
_Ordered_, That Messrs. GILES, ADAMS, and SMITH of Maryland, be a
committee to inquire whether it is expedient, in the present state of
public affairs, to suspend the privilege of the writ of _habeas corpus_,
and that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise.
_Ordered_, That the Message of the President of the United States, of the
22d instant, together with the documents therein mentioned, be referred
to the same committee.
Whereupon, Mr. GILES, from the committee, reported a bill to suspend the
privilege of the writ of _habeas corpus_ for a limited time, in certain
cases; and the rule was, by unanimous consent, dispensed with, and the
bill had three readings, and was amended.
_Resolved_, That this bill pass as amended, that it be engrossed, and
that the title thereof be “An act to suspend the privilege of the writ of
_habeas corpus_ for a limited time in certain cases.”
The committee also reported the following message to the House of
Representatives; which was read and agreed to, to wit:
_Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_:
The Senate have passed a bill suspending for three months the
privilege of the writ of _habeas corpus_, in certain cases,
which they think expedient to communicate to you in confidence,
and to request your concurrence therein, as speedily as the
emergency of the case shall, in your judgment, require.
_Ordered_, That Mr. SMITH of Maryland be the committee to deliver the
message to the House of Representatives.
MONDAY, January 26.
_Burr’s Conspiracy._
A Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, as
follows:
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States_:
I received from General Wilkinson, on the 23d instant, his
affidavit, charging Samuel Swartwout, Peter V. Ogden, and James
Alexander, with the crimes described in the affidavit; a copy
of which is now communicated to both Houses of Congress.
It was announced to me at the same time, that Swartwout and
Bollman, two of the persons apprehended by him, were arrived
in this city, in custody, each, of a military officer. I
immediately delivered to the Attorney of the United States,
in this district, the evidence received against them, with
instructions to lay the same before the Judges, and apply for
their process to bring the accused to justice; and put into his
hands orders to the officers having them in custody to deliver
them to the Marshal, on his application.