_Resolved_, That the members of the Senate from a sincere desire of
showing every mark of respect due to the memory of the Honorable URIAH
TRACY, deceased, late a member thereof, will go into mourning for him one
month, by the usual mode of wearing a crape round the left arm.
TUESDAY, November 3.
ANDREW MOORE, from the State of Virginia, attended.
The PRESIDENT communicated a letter, signed William Eaton, enclosing
the translation of a petition of Hamet Bashaw Caramalli, stating his
services and sufferings in behalf of the United States, in which, relying
on promises of remuneration, he hath exposed his life, and sacrificed all
his means, and praying relief; and the petition was read, and ordered to
lie for consideration.
THURSDAY, November 5.
_Removal of Federal Judges on Address from Congress._
Mr. TIFFIN submitted the following motion for consideration:
_Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, two-thirds
of both Houses concurring_, That the following section
be submitted to the Legislatures of the several States,
which, when ratified and confirmed by the Legislatures of
three-fourths of the said States, shall be valid and binding,
as a part of the Constitution of the United States, in lieu of
the first section of third article thereof:
“The judicial power of the United States shall be vested in
one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress
may, from time to time, ordain and establish. The judges, both
of the Supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices
for ---- years, shall be removed by the President on the
address of two-thirds of both Houses of Congress requesting the
same, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services
a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their
continuance in office.”
MONDAY, November 9.
Mr. POPE, appointed a Senator by the State of Kentucky, produced his
credentials, which were read and ordered to lie on file.
FRIDAY, November 13.
_Slavery in Indiana Territory._
Mr. FRANKLIN, from the committee to whom were referred, on the 7th
instant, the resolutions of the Legislative Council and House of
Representatives of the Indiana Territory, on the propriety of suspending
the sixth article of compact contained in the Ordinance for the
government of the North-western Territory, passed the 13th day of July,
1787, together with a remonstrance of certain citizens of Clark County
against the said resolutions, made report; which was read, and ordered to
lie for consideration.
The report is as follows:
The Legislative Council and House of Representatives, in
their resolutions, express their sense of the propriety of
introducing slavery into their Territory, and solicit the
Congress of the United States to suspend, for a given number
of years, the sixth article of compact, in the Ordinance for
the government of the Territory north-west of the river Ohio,
passed the 13th day of July, 1787. That article declares:
“there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in
the said Territory.”
The citizens of Clark County, in their remonstrance, express
their sense of the impropriety of the measure, and solicit the
Congress of the United States not to act on the subject, so
as to permit the introduction of slaves into the Territory;
at least until their population shall entitle them to form a
constitution and State government.
Your committee, after duly considering the matter, respectfully
submit the following resolution:
_Resolved_, That it is not expedient at this time to suspend
the sixth article of compact for the government of the
Territory of the United States north-west of the river Ohio.
TUESDAY, November 17.
The PRESIDENT communicated a letter from JAMES FENNER, stating the
resignation of his seat in the Senate.
_Slavery in Indiana._
The Senate took into consideration the report of the committee to whom
was referred, on the 7th instant, the resolutions of the Legislative
Council and House of Representatives of the Indiana Territory, on the
propriety of suspending the 6th article of compact contained in the
ordinance for the government of the North-western Territory, and agreed
thereto; and,
_Resolved_, That it is not expedient, at this time, to suspend the 6th
article of compact for the government of the Territory of the United
States north-west of the river Ohio.
THURSDAY, November 19.
The credentials of ELISHA MATHEWSON, appointed a Senator by the
Legislature of the State of Rhode Island, in the place of JAMES FENNER,
elected Governor, were read.
FRIDAY, November 20.
Mr. MATHEWSON, from the State of Rhode Island, took his seat in the
Senate, and the oath prescribed by law was administered to him.
FRIDAY, November 27.
CHAUNCEY GOODRICH, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State
of Connecticut, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of the late
Hon. Uriah Tracy, attended, and his credentials were read; and the oath
prescribed by law was administered to him.
_Case of John Smith._
Mr. MACLAY offered the following resolution:
_Resolved_, That a committee be appointed to inquire and report
to the Senate their opinion whether John Smith, a Senator from
the State of Ohio, ought not to be expelled from the Senate,
in consequence of the part which he took in the conspiracy of
Aaron Burr, against the peace and prosperity of the United
States, or what other steps, in their opinion, it may be
necessary and proper, under the present circumstances, for the
Senate to adopt.
Mr. HOPE moved to amend this resolution; to make way for which amendment,
Mr. MACLAY withdrew his resolution.
Mr. THRUSTON offered the following resolution as an amendment, omitting
that part in italics, which Mr. JONES moved as an amendment to the
amendment:
_Resolved_, That a committee be appointed to inquire whether
it be compatible with the honor and privileges of this House,
that John Smith, a Senator from the State of Ohio, against
whom bills of indictment were found at the Circuit Court of
Virginia, held at Richmond in August last, for treason and
misdemeanor, should be permitted any longer to hold a seat
therein; and that the committee do inquire into _all the facts
regarding the conduct of Mr. Smith, as an alleged associate of
Aaron Burr_, and report the same to the Senate.
Mr. HILLHOUSE objected to the resolution on the ground of allowing the
committee too wide a latitude.
Mr. ADAMS vindicated the resolution from this objection.
The question was then taken on the resolution offered by Mr. THRUSTON,
and amended by Mr. JONES, and carried without a division; and Messrs.
ADAMS, MACLAY, FRANKLIN, S. SMITH, POPE, THRUSTON, and ANDERSON, were
appointed the committee.
WEDNESDAY, December 9.
WILLIAM H. CRAWFORD, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State
of Georgia, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Abraham
Baldwin, attended and produced his credentials, which were read, and the
oath prescribed by law was administered to him.
FRIDAY, December 18.
_Embargo._
The following Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES:
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States_:
The communications now made, showing the great and increasing
dangers with which our vessels, our seamen, and merchandise,
are threatened on the high seas and elsewhere, from the
belligerent powers of Europe, and it being of the greatest
importance to keep in safety these essential resources, I deem
it my duty to recommend the subject to the consideration of
Congress, who will doubtless perceive all the advantages which
may be expected from an inhibition of the departure of our
vessels from the ports of the United States.
Their wisdom will also see the necessity of making every
preparation for whatever events may grow out of the present
crisis.