Mr. Livermore took the chair of the committee. Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Livermore reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said report under consideration, and made some progress therein." Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the said report. The orders of the day were read, and postponed until to-morrow. And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock. TUESDAY, MAY 11. A petition of John Stiller was presented to the House and read, praying to be placed on the list of pensioners, in consideration of wounds received in the service of the United States during the late war. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of War, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. Mr. Fitzsimons, from the committee appointed, presented, according to order, a bill repealing, after the last day of — next, the duties heretofore laid upon wines imported from foreign ports or places, and laying others in their stead; which was received, and read the first time. The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, covering a report of the tonnage duties received in each of the States, between the first day of September and the first day of January last, made pursuant to an order of the House of the fifth instant; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table. The House, according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the report of the committee to whom was referred so much of the petition of the merchants and traders of the town of Portsmouth, in the State of New Hampshire, as prays that Congress will adopt measures to prevent foreigners from carrying the commodities of this continent to any port or place where the citizens of the United States are prohibited from carrying them. Mr. Speaker left the chair. Mr. Seney took the chair of the committee. Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Seney reported that the committee had, acccording to order, again had the said report under consideration, and made a farther progress therein. Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the said report. The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of War, covering a report, made pursuant to an order of the House, of the twenty-third ultimo, stating an account of the troops, (including the militia) and also of the ordnance stores, furnished from time to time, by the several States, towards the support of the late war; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table. The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, covering a report, made pursuant to an order of the House, of the twenty-third ultimo, stating the sums of money, including indents and paper money of every kind, reduced to specie value, which have been received from, or paid to, the several States, by Congress, from the commencement of the Revolution to the present period; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have agreed to some, and disagreed to others, of the amendments proposed by this House to the bill sent from the Senate, entitled “An act for giving effect to the act therein mentioned, in respect to the State of North Carolina, and to amend the said act." And then he withdrew. The orders of the day were read, and postponed until to-morrow. And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock. WEDNESDAY, MAY 12. A bill repealing, after the last day of - next, the duties heretofore laid upon wines imported from foreign ports or places, and laying others in their stead, was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next. A petition of Abraham Scribner and Thomas Cable was presented to the House and read, praying payment for the hire and value of a vessel, the property of the peti– tioners, which was impressed into the transport service of the United States, in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six, and taken by the enemy. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. The House proceeded to re-consider such of their amendments proposed to the bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act for giving effect to the act therein mentioned, in respect to the State of North Carolina, and to amend the said act," as were disagreed to by the Senate: Whereupon, Resolved, That a conference be desired with the Senate on the subject-matter of the said amendments, and that Mr. White, Mr. Steele, Mr. Foster, Mr. Livermore, and Mr. Williamson, be appointed managers at the said conference, on the part of this House. The House, according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the report of the committee to whom was referred so much of the petition of the merchants and traders of the town of Portsmouth, in the State of New Hampshire, as prays that Congress will adopt measures to prevent foreigners from carrying the commodities of this continent to any port or place where the citizens of the United States are prohibited from carrying them. Mr. Speaker left the chair. Mr. Seney took the chair of the committee. Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Seney reported that the committee had, according to order, again had the said report under consideration, and made a farther progress therein. Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the said report. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary: Mr. Speaker: The Senate agree to the conference desired by this House, on the subject-matter of the amendments to the bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act for giving effect to the act therein mentioned, in respect to the State of North Carolina, and to amend the said act,” and have appointed managers on their part. And then he withdrew. Mr. Benson, from the joint committee of both Houses, appointed to consider and report their opinion on the question, "When, according to the Constitution, the terms for which the President, Vice President, Senators, and Representatives, have been respectively chosen, shall be deemed to have commenced;" and also to consider of, and report their opinion on, such other matters as they shall conceive to have relation to this question, made a report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. The orders of the day were read, and postponed until to-morrow. THURSDAY, MAY 13. A petition of sundry persons of the denomination of People called Quakers, in the State of North Carolina, was presented to the House and read, praying relief against the operation of an act of the Legislature of the said State, by which they are deprived of the right of pre-emption to certain lands, which they held under the laws thereof. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to Mr. Heister, Mr. Ashe, and Mr. Gale, that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. Ordered, That the petition of Francis Mentges, which lay on the table, be referred to Mr. Stone, Mr. Wadsworth, and Mr. Page; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. A petition of Abel Turney was presented to the House and read, praying to be placed on the list of invalids, in consideration of a wound received in the service of the United States during the late war. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of War, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the report of the committee to whom was referred so much of the petition of the merchants and traders of the town of Portsmouth, in the State of New Hampshire, as prays that Congress will adopt measures to prevent foreigners from car. rying the commodities of this continent to any port or place where the citizens of the United States are prohibited from carrying them. Mr. Speaker left the chair. Mr. Seney took the chair of the committee. Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Seney reported that the Committee had, according to order, again had the said report under consideration, and made a farther progress therein. Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the said report. Mr. Baldwin, from the committee to whom was referred the memorial of the officers of the late Navy of the United States, made a report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. The orders of the day were read, and postponed until to-morrow. And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock. FRIDAY, MAY 14. The House, according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the report of the committee to whom was referred so much of the petition of the merchants and traders of the town of Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, as prays that Congress will adopt measures to prevent foreigners from carrying the commodities of this continent to any port or place where the citizens of the United States are prohibited from carrying them. Mr. Speaker left the chair. Mr. Boudinot took the chair of the committee. Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Boudinot reported that the committee had, according to order, again had the said report under consideration, and come to a resolution thereupon; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same was again twice read, and agreed to by the House, as followeth: -- "Resolved, That the tonnage on all foreign built bottoms, belonging to nations not in commercial treaty with the United States, be raised to the sum of one dollar per ton, from and after the first day of January next; and that, from and after the day of -, the tonnage on all such vessels be raised to; and that, from and after the dayno such vessel be permitted to export from the United States, any unmanufactured article, being the growth or produce thereof: Provided, that this resolution shall not be extended to the vessels of any nation, which permits the importation of fish, other salted provision, grain, and lumber, in vessels of the United States. Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in pursuant to the said resolution, and that Mr. Madison, Mr. Sedgwick, and Mr. Hartley, do prepare and bring in the same. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have agreed to the report of the Joint Committee appointed to consider and report their opinion on the question, "When, according to the Constitution, the terms for which the President, Vice President, Senators, and Representatives, have been respectively chosen, shall be deemed to have commenced "" and also to consider and report their opinion on such other matters as they should conceive to have relation to this question. They have also passed the bill, entitled "An act for the Encouragement of Learning by securing the copy-rights of maps, charts, books, and other writings, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned," with several amendments, to which they desire the concurrence of this House. And then he withdrew. Mr. Bland, from the committee to whom was referred a motion of the seventh instant, respecting the arrears of pay due to a part of the troops of the Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina lines, made a report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. A petition of sundry persons, citizens of the United States, captured by the Algerines, and now in slavery in Algiers, was presented to the House and read, praying the interposition of Congress in their behalf, and that effectual measures may be adopted for liberating them from slavery, and restoring them to their country. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of State, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. Mr. Wadsworth, from the committee appointed, presented, according to order, an amendatory bill to regulate the trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes; which was received and read the first time. Mr. White, from the managers appointed on the part of this House, to attend the conference with the Senate on the subject-matter of the amendments depending be tween the two Houses to the bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act for giving effect to the act therein mentioned, in respect to the State of North Carolina, and to amend the said act," made a report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Silvester, from the committee to whom was referred the petition of Thomas Jenkins and others, made a report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. The orders of the day were read, and postponed until Monday next. And then the House adjourned until Monday morning eleven o'clock. MONDAY, MAY 17. An amendatory bill to regulate Trade and Intercourse with the Indian tribes, was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Wednesday next. Mr. Madison, from the committee appointed, presented, according to order, a bill concerning the Nnavigation and Trade of the United States; which was received and read the first time. A member, in his place, presented to the House a representation from the commissioners of pilotage in the State of South Carolina; which was read, and ordered to be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury. The House proceeded to consider the report of the committee to whom was referred the petition of Thomas Jenkins and others: Whereupon, Ordered, That the said report be committed to Mr. Silvester, Mr. Hartley, and Mr. Tucker, with instruction to prepare and bring in a bill or bills pursuant thereto. The House proceeded to consider the report of the managers appointed on the part of this House to attend the conferrence with the Senate on the subject-matter of the amendments depending between the two Houses, to the bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act for giving effect to the act therein mentioned, in respect to the State of North Carolina, and to amend the said act:" Whereupon, Resolved, That this House do recede from their first amendment, and, in lieu thereof, propose to strike out, in the last line of the third section, the words "And Hillsborough alternately, beginning at the first." Resolved, That this House do insist on their second amendment. Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith. The House proceeded to consider the amendments of the Senate, to the bill, entitled “ An act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, books, and other writings, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned:" Whereupon, Resolved, That this House do agree to the said amendments. Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith. On motion, Ordered, That the report of the committee appointed to join with a committee of the Senate, to consider and report their opinion on the question, "When, according to the Constitution, the terms for which the President, Vice President, Senators, and Representatives, have been, respectively, chosen, shall be deemed to have commenced?" and, also, to consider of, and report their opinion on, such other matters as they shall conceive to have relation to this question," be committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow. The House proceeded to consider the resolutions reported by the committee to whom was referred a motion of the seventh instant, respecting the arrears of pay due to a part of the troops of the Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina lines: Whereupon, Resolved, That this House do agree to the said resolutions, amended to read as follows: "Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be forthwith transmitted to the Executives of the States of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, a complete list of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of the lines of those States, respectively, who are entitled to receive arrears of pay, due for services in the Army, in the years one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, and one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, annexing the particular sum that is due to each individual, with a request to the Executives of the said States, to make known to the claimants, in the most effectual manner, that the said arrears are ready to be discharged on proper application. Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause the Secretary of the Treasury to take the necessary steps for paying (within the said States, respectively,) the money appropriated by Congress, on the twenty-ninth day of September, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine, for the discharging the arrears of pay due to the troops of the lines of the said States respectively. Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury, in cases where the payment has not been made to the original claimant, in person, or to his representative, be directed to take order for making the pay inent to the original claimant, or to such person or persons only as shall produce a power of attorney, duly attested by two justices of the peace, VOL. I.-28. of the county in which such person or persons reside, authorizing him or them to receive a certain specified sum.' Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said resolutions to the Senate, and desire their concurrence. The orders of the day were read, and postponed until to-morrow. And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock. TUESDAY, MAY 18. A bill concerning the Navigation and Trade of the United States was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-mor row. A petition of Mary Catherine Goddard, of the town of Baltimore, was presented to the House and read, praying payment of a claim against the United States. Also, A memorial of Dominique L. Eglize, praying an augmentation of the pension heretofore granted him, in consideration of imprisonment and sufferings during the late war. Also, a petition of Richard Phillips, praying payment of a claim against the United States. Ordered, That the said petitions and memorial be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. A memorial of William Taylor was presented to the House and read, praying to be allowed the commutation of full pay in lieu of half pay for life, as an officer in the late Army of the United States. Also, A petition of Timothy Hosmer, praying to be allowed the depreciation of pay as a surgeon in the hospital of the Eastern department, during the late war. Ordered, That the said petition and memorial be referred to the Secretary of War, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. The Speaker laid before the House a letter and report from the Secretary of War on the petition of Samuel Carleton, which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the report of the committee appointed to confer with a committee of the Senate to consider and report their opinion on the question, "When, ac. cording to the Constitution, the terms for which the President, Vice President, Senators, and Representatives, have been, respectively, chosen, shall be deemed to havę commenced?" and, also, to consider of, and report their opinion on, such other matters as they shall conceive to have relation to this question." Mr. Speaker left the chair. Mr. Seney took the chair of the committee. Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Seney reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said report under consideration, and made no amendment thereto. Resolved, That this House do agree to the said report, amended to read as followeth : "That the terms for which the President, Vice President, Senate, and House of Representatives of the United States, were respectively chosen, did, according to the Constitution, commence on the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eightynine: And so the Senators of the first class, and the Representatives, will not, according to the Constitution, be entitled, by virtue of the same election by which they hold seats in the present Congress, to seats in the next Congress, which will be assembled after the third of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one: And further, That whenever a vacancy shall happen in the Senate or House of Representatives, and on election to fill such vacancy, the person elected will not, according to the Constitution, be entitled, by virtue of such election, to hold a seat beyond the time for which the Senator or Representative in whose stead such person shall have been elected, would, if the vacancy had not happened, have been entitled to hold a seat. That it will be advisable for the Congress to pass a law or laws, for determining, agreeable to the provision in the first section of the second article of the Constitution, the time when the electors shall, in the year which will terminate on the third of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three, and so in every fourth year thereafter, be chosen, and the day on which they shall give their votes, for declaring what officer |