Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

TUESDAY, JANUARY 5.

The House met according to adjournment.

Another member, to wit: Elias Boudinot, from New Jersey, appeared and took his

seat.

But a quorum of the whole number not being present,

The House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6.

The House met according to adjournment.

Several other members, to wit: from New Jersey, James Schureman; and from Vírginia, John Page and Richard Bland Lee; appeared and took their seats.

But a quorum of the whole number not being present,

The House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7.

The House met according to adjournment.

Several other members, to wit: from Connecticut, Jonathan Sturges and Jeremiah Wadsworth; from New York, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer; from Maryland, Daniel Carroll; and from Georgia, George Mathews; appeared and took their seats.

And a quorum of the whole number being present,

Ordered, That a message be sent to the Senate to inform them that a quorum of this House is assembled, and ready to proceed to business; and that the Clerk of this House do go with the said message.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the President of the United States, of the fourth instant, requesting that when there shall be a sufficient number of the two Houses of Congress assembled to proceed to business, he may be informed of it; and, also, at what time and place it will be convenient for Congress that he should meet them, in order to make some oral communications at the commencement of their session; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary:

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have appointed a committee on their part, jointly, with such committee as shall be appointed on the part of this House, to wait on the President of the United States, and notify him that a quorum of the two Houses has assembled, and will be ready, in the Senate Chamber, at such time as he shall appoint, to receive any communications which he may think proper to make. And then he withdrew.

Ordered, That Mr. Gilman, Mr. Ames, and Mr. Seney, be appointed a committee on the part of this House for the purpose expressed in the message from the Senate. On motion,

Ordered, That a committee be appointed to examine the Journal of the last session, and to report therefrom all such matters of business as were then depending and undetermined; and a committee was appointed, of Mr. Boudinot, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. White.

On motion,

Resolved, That two Chaplains, of different denominations, be appointed to Congress, for the present session, one by each House, who shall interchange weekly.

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said resolution to the Senate, and desire their concurrence.

Mr. Gilman, from the committee appointed to wait on the President of the United States, pursuant to the order of to-day, reported that the committee had, according to order, peformed that service, and that the President was pleased to say he would attend, to make his communication to both Houses of Congress, to-morrow morning, at eleven o'clock.

And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning at half past ten o'clock.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 8.

Another member, to wit: Henry Wynkoop, from Pennsylvania, appeared and took his seat.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary:

Mr. Speaker: The Senate agree to the resolution of this House for the appointment of two Chaplains to Congress, for the present session, and have elected the Right Reverend Doctor Samuel Provost, on their part. The Senate are also now ready in the

Senate Chamber to attend this House in receiving the communication from the President of the United States. And then he withdrew.

Mr. Speaker, attended by the members of this House, then withdrew to the Senate Chamber for the purpose expressed in the message from the Senate and being returned,

Mr. Speaker laid before the House a copy of the Speech delivered by the President. of the United States to both Houses of Congress, in the Senate Chamber, as followeth: Fellow Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives :

I embrace, with great satisfaction, the opportunity which now presents itself, of congratulating you on the present favorable prospects of our public affairs. The recent accession of the important State of North Carolina to the Constitution of the United States, (of which official information has been received ;) the rising credit and respectability of our country; and the general increasing good will towards the Government of the Union; and the concord, peace, and plenty, with which we are blessed-are circumstances auspicious, in an eminent degree, to our national prosperity.

In resuming your consultations for the general good, you cannot but derive encou ragement from the reflection that the measures of the last session have been as satisfactory to your constituents as the novelty and difficulty of the work allowed you to hope. Still further to realize their expectations, and to secure the blessings which a gracious Providence has placed within our reach, will, in the course of the present important session, call for the cool and deliberate exertion of your patriotism, firmness, and wis

dom.

Among the many interesting objects which will engage your attention, that of providing for the common defence will merit particular regard. To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.

A free People ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well digested plan is requisite: and their safety and interest require, that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent on others for essential, particularly for military supplies.

The proper establishment of the troops which may be deemed indispensable, will be entitled to mature consideration. In the arrangements which may be made respecting it, it will be of importance to conciliate the comfortable support of the officers and soldiers with a due regard to economy.

There was reason to hope that the pacific measures adopted with regard to certain hostile tribes of Indians, would have relieved the inhabitants of our Southern and Western frontiers from their depredations. But you will perceive, from the information contained in the papers which I shall direct to be laid before you, (comprehending a communication from the Commonwealth of Virginia,) that we ought to be prepared to afford protection to those parts of the Union, and, if necessary, to punish aggressors. The interests of the United States require that our intercourse with other nations should be facilitated by such provisions as will enable me to fulfil my duty, in that respect, in the manner which circumstances may render most conducive to the public good; and, to this end, that the compensations to be made to the persons who may be employed, should, according to the nature of their appointments, be defined by law. and a competent fund designated for defraying the expenses incident to the conduct of our foreign affairs.

Various considerations, also, render it expedient that the terms on which foreigners may be admitted to the rights of citizens, should be speedily ascertained by a uniform rule of naturalization.

Uniformity in the currency, weights, and measures, of the United States, is an object of great importance, and will, I am persuaded, be duly attended to.

The advancement of agriculture, commerce, and manufactures, by all proper means will not, I trust, need recommendation. But I cannot forbear intimating to you the expediency of giving effectual encouragement, as well to the introduction of new and useful inventions from abroad, as to the exertions of skill and genius in producing them at home; and of facilitating the intercourse between the distant parts of our country, by a due attention to the post office and post roads.

Nor am I less persuaded that you will agree with me in opinion, that there is nothing which can better deserve your patronage than the promotion of science and literature. Knowledge is, in every country, the surest basis of public happiness. In one in which the measures of Government receive their impression so immediately from the sense of the community, as in ours, it is proportionably essential. To the security of a free Constitution it contributes in various ways: by convincing those who are entrusted with

the public administration, that every valuable end of Governiment is best answered by the enlightened confidence of the People, and by teaching the People themselves to know and to value their own rights; to discern and provide against invasions of them; to distinguish between oppression and the necessary exercise of lawful authority; between burthens proceeding from a disregard to their convenience, and those resulting from the inevitable exigencies of society; to discriminate the spirit of liberty from that of licentiousness-cherishing the first, avoiding the last, and uniting a speedy but temporate vigilance against encroachments, with an inviolable respect to the laws.

Whether this desirable object will be best promoted by affording aids to seminaries of learning already established; by the institution of a national university; or by any other expedients-will be well worthy of a place in the deliberations of the Legislature. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:

I saw, with peculiar pleasure, at the close of the last session, the resolution entered into by you, expressive of your opinion that an adequate provision for the support of the public credit, is a matter of high importance to the national honor and prosperity. In this sentiment I entirely concur. And to a perfect confidence in your best endeavors to devise such a provision as will be truly consistent with the end, I add an equal reliance on the cheerful co-operation of the other branch of the Legislature. It would be superfluous to specify inducements to a measure, in which the character and permanent interests of the United States are so obviously and so deeply concerned, and which has received so explicit a sanction from your declaration.

Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives:

I have directed the proper officers to lay before you, respectively, such papers and estimates as regard the affairs particularly recommended to your consideration, and necessary to convey to you that information of the state of the Union, which it is my duty to afford.

The welfare of our country is the great object to which our cares and efforts ought to be directed; and I shall derive great satisfaction from a co-operation with you, in the pleasing, though arduous task, of ensuring to our fellow-citizens the blessings which they have a right to expect from a free, efficient, and equal Government.

United States, January 8, 1790.

On motion,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Resolved, That the said Speech be committed to the consideration of a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow.

The House then proceeded by ballot to the appointment of a Chaplain to Congress, on the part of this House; and upon examining the ballots, a majority of the votes of the Whole House was found in favor of the Reverend Doctor William Linn. And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 9.

Another member, to wit, George Clymer, from Pennsylvania, appeared and took his

seat.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, stating that he is now ready to report, at such time and in such manner as the House shall be pleased to direct, a plan, which he has prepared, relative to a provision for the support of the public credit, pursuant to an order of this House, of the 21st September last: Whereupon,

Ordered, That on Thursday next this House will receive, in writing, the report of the Secretary of the Department of the Treasury, agreeably to the order of the House of the twenty-first of September last.

The House then, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the Speech of the President of the United States to both Houses of Congress.

Mr. Speaker left the chair.

Mr. Baldwin took the chair of the committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Baldwin reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said Speech under consideration, and come to a resolution thereupon; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same was twice read, and, on a question put thereupon, agreed to by the House, as followeth:

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee that an address ought to be presented by the House to the President of the United States, in answer to his Speech to both Houses, with assurances that this House will, without delay, proceed to take into their serious consideration the various and important matters recommended to their attention,

Ordered, That Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, Mr. Clymer, and Mr. Lawrance, be appointed a committee to prepare an address, pursuant to the said resolution.

A petition of Christopher Saddler, of Nova Scotia, in the dominion of Great Britain, mariner, was presented to the House, and read, praying to be relieved from the forfeiture of his vessel and cargo, which have been seized in the port of Boston, for a violation of the impost law of the United States; of which law the petitioner was wholly ignorant.

Ordered, That the said petition do lie on the table.

And then the House adjourned until Monday morning eleven o'clock.

MONDAY, JANUARY 11.

Several other members, to wit, from Connecticut, Jonathan Trumbull; from New York, John Hathorn; and from Virginia, Andrew Moore; appeared and took their seats. Mr. Boudinot, from the committee appointed to examine the Journal of the last session, and to report therefrom all such matters of business as were then depending and undetermined, made a report, which was read, and is as followeth:

"It appears to your committee, that the several petitions of David Ramsay, John Churchman, Alexander Lewis, Arthur Greer, Jedidiah Morse, John Fitch, Englehart Cruse, Nicholas Pike, Samuel Briggs, John Christopher Stocbel, Leonard Harbaugh, Hannah Adams, Christopher Colles, David Greenleaf, John Macpherson, Abraham Westervelt, James Rumsey, and William Hoy, respectively praying for exclusive privileges, as authors or inventors of some useful work or discovery, were ordered to lie on the table, and so remained during the session.

It further appears to your committee, that the several petitions of Martha Walker, Duncan Campbell, Tristram Coffin, William Finnie, Englebert Kemmena, Thomasin Gordon, Prudent la Jeunesse, Baron de Steuben, and Richard Ham, respectively praying to be compensated for military services, or for injuries or losses sustained during the late war, were referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, to examine and report upon to the present session.

It further appears to your committee, that the several petitions of John M'Garragh, Dudley Tyler, Patrick Bennet, John Hurt, James Gibbons, Archibald M'Alister, Alexander Power, Attorney for Colonel Flower's regiment, Henry Malcolm, and Charles Markley, respectively praying to be compensated for military services rendered during the late war, were referred to the Secretary of War, to examine and report upon to the present session.

It further appears to your committee, that the several petitions of Andrew Newell and Seth Clarke, Sarah Parker, Bartlet Hinds, Robert Frazier, David Sturges, Richard Philips, James M'Lean, James Read, and Thomas Barclay, respectively praying that certain claims which they exhibit against the United States, may be considered and allowed, were ordered to lie on the table, and so remained during the session.

It also appears to your committee, that the petition of Joseph Wheaton, Serjeant-atArms to this House, praying an inquiry into the charges exhibited against him in certain anonymous letters, was ordered to lie on the table, and so remained during the session. Your committee further report, that committees were appointed to prepare and bring in the several bills following, to wit:

A bill to establish a Uniform System on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States.

A bill for the further encouragement of the Commerce and Navigation of the United States. A bill providing for the Actual Enumeration of the Inhabitants of the United States. Also, a bill providing a proper System of Regulation for the Militia of the United States: Neither of which bills were reported during the session.

It also appears to your committee, that there were postponed by this House, for further consideration, until the present session, the several bills following, to wit:

A bill to promote the Progress of Science and Useful Arts, by securing to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries.

A bill for the establishment of Hospitals for the relief of sick and disabled Seamen, and prescribing regulations for the harbors of the United States.

VOL. I.-18.

A bill concerning the Importation of Certain Persons prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight.

A bill to establish a Land Office in and for the Western Territory. Also,

A bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act for the punishment of certain Crimes against the United States."

That the bill, entitled "An act to establish the Seat of Government of the United States," was postponed by the Senate, for the further consideration of an amendment proposed by this House, until the present session.

And lastly: That the report of the committee appointed to examine into the measures taken by Congress, and the State of Virginia, respecting lands reserved for the officers and soldiers of the said State, was postponed by this House, for further consideration, until the present session."

Ordered, That the said report do lie on the table.

Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, from the committee appointed, presented, according to order, an address to the President of the United States, in answer to his speech to both Houses of Congress; which was read, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow.

On motion,

Ordered, That the petition of Christopher Saddler, presented on Saturday last, be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

On motion,

Ordered, That a committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a bill providing for the actual enumeration of the inhabitants of the United States:

And a committee was appointed, of Mr. Foster, Mr. Goodhue, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Lawrance, Mr. Schureman, Mr. Clymer, Mr. Seney, Mr. White, Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, and Mr. Baldwin.

A message, in writing, was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Lear, his Private Secretary, who delivered in the same, together with the papers therein referred to, and then withdrew.

The said message, and papers accompanying it, were read, and are as follow:

Gentlemen of the House of Rrepresentatives:

UNITED STATES, January 11, 1790.

I have directed Mr. Lear, my Private Secretary, to lay before you a copy of the adoption and ratification of the Constitution of the United States, by the State of North Carolina, together with a copy of a letter from his Excellency Samuel Johnston, President of the Convention of said State, to the President of the United States.

The originals of the papers which are herewith transmitted to you, will be lodged in the office of the Secretary of State.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

"FAYETTVILLE, State of North Carolina, 4th December, 1789.

SIR: By order of the Convention of the People of this State, I have the honor to transmit to you the ratification and adoption of the Constitution of the United States, by the said Convention, in behalf of the People.

With sentiments of the highest consideration and respect, I have the honour to be, sir, your most faithful and obedient servant,

SAMUEL JOHNSTON, President of the Convention.

To the President of the United States.

I do certify the above to be a true copy from the original.

TOBIAS LEAR, Secretary to the President of the United States.

A Copy of the Adoption and Ratification of the Constitution of the United States, by the State of North Carolina.

State of North Carolina, in Convention.

Whereas the General Convention which met in Philadelphia, in pursuance of a recommendation of Congress, did recommend to the citizens of the United States, a Consti tution or Form of Government, in the following words, viz:

"We the People," &c.

[Here follows the Constitution of the United States, verbatim.]

« ZurückWeiter »