I have therefore directed the several statements and papers, which have been submitted to me on this subject by General Knox, to be laid before you for your infor

mation.

While the measures of Government ought to be calculated to protect its citizens from all injury and violence, a due regard should be extended to those Indian tribes, whose happiness, in the course of events, so materially depends on the national justice and humanity of the United States.

to

If it should be the judgment of Congress, that it would be most expedient to terminate all differences in the Southern district, and to lay the foundation for future confidence, by an amicable treaty with the Indian tribes in that quarter, I think proper suggest the consideration of the expedieney of instituting a temporary commission for that purpose, to consist of three persons, whose authority should expire with the occasion.

How far such a measure, unassisted by posts, would be competent to the establishment and preservation of peace and tranquillity on the frontiers, is also a matter which merits your serious consideration.

Along with this object, I am induced to suggest another, with the national importance and necessity of which I am deeply impressed; I mean some uniform and effective system for the militia of the United States. It is unnecessary to offer arguments in recommendation of a measure, on which the honor, safety, and well-being of our country so evidently, and so essentially depend.

But it may not be amiss to observe, that I am particularly anxious it should receive as early attention as circumstances will admit; because it is now in our power to avail ourselves of the military knowledge disseminated throughout the several States, by means of the many well-instructed officers and soldiers of the late army-a resource which is daily diminishing by deaths and other causes.

To suffer this peculiar advantage to pass away unimproved, would be to neglect an opportunity which will never again occur, unless unfortunately we should again be involved in a long and arduous war.

New York, August 7, 1789.

On motion,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Ordered, That the said message, with the statement and papers accompanying the be committed to the consideration of a Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

same,

Another message was received from the President of the United States, notifying that the President approves of the following acts, to wit:

An act, entitled "An act to establish an Executive Department, to be denominated the Department of War;"

An act, entitled "An act to provide for the government of the territory Northwest of the river Ohio;" Also,

An act, entitled "An act for the establishment and support of light-houses, beacons, buoys, and public piers;"

And has this day affixed his signature to the same: And the messenger delivered in the said acts, and then withdrew.

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith.

An engrossed bill for allowing compensation to the members of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, and to the officers of both Houses, was read the third time, and ordered to be re-committed to a Committee of the Whole House immediately.

The House accordingly resolved itself into the said committee.

Mr. Speaker left the chair.

Mr. Boudinot took the chair of the committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Boudinot reported that the commitree had, according to order, had the said bill under consideration, and gone through the same, and made several amendments thereto, which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same were severally twice read, and agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That the said bill, with the amendments, be again engrossed, and read the third time on Monday next.

A petition of David Greenleaf, was presented to the House, and read, praying that an exclusive privilege may be granted him, to construct and build mills, within the United States, upon the principles of an invention which he has discovered, for turning them by the help of a weight that is appended.

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

The order of the day for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act to establish the Judicial Courts of the United States;" also, on the bill for establishing a Land Office in and for the Western territory; and on the bill to provide for the safe-keeping of the acts, records, and seals, of the United States; for the due publication of the acts of Congress; for the authentication of the copies of records; for making out and recording commissions, and prescribing their form; and for establishing the fees of office to be taken for making such commissions; and for copies of records and papers; were read, and postponed until to-morrow.

And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8.

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

Mr. Speaker: The Senate agree to the resolutions of this House, of the twenty-seventh ultimo, establishing joint rules between the two Houses for the enrolment of the acts of Congress, and to regulate the mode of presenting addresses to the President of the United States. And then he withdrew.

The House, according to the standing order of the day, resolved itself into a Commit. tee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

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, had the state of the Union under consideration, and come to several resolutions thereupon; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same were severally twice read, and agreed to by the House, as follow:

"Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee that an act ought to pass, providing for the necessary expenses attending any negotiations, or treaties, which may be held with the Indian tribes, or attending the appointment of commissioners for those purposes.

"Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee that an act ought to pass, providing a proper system of regulations for the militia of the United States."

Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in pursuant to the first resolution, and that Mr. Clymer, Mr. Ames, and Mr. Moore, do prepare and bring in the same.

Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in pursuant to the second resolution, and that Mr. Sumpter, Mr. Heister, and Mr. Mathews, do prepare and bring in the same.

The several orders of the day for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act to establish the Judicial Courts of the United States;" also, on the bill for establishing a Land Office, in and for the Western territory; and on the bill to provide for the safe-keeping of the acts, records, and seal, of the United States; for the due publication of the acts of Congress; for the authentication of the copies of records; for making out and recording commissions, and prescribing their form; and for establishing the fees of office to be taken for making such commissions; and for copies of records and papers; were read, and postponed until Monday next.

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

MONDAY, AUGUST 10.

A petition of John Macpherson, was presented to the House, and read, praying that an exclusive privilege may be granted him for a term of years, to make and vend lightning rods, upon an improved construction; also, conductors and umbrellas, upon a model which he has invented, making them certain preservers from lightning. Ordered, That the said petition do lie on the table.

An engrossed bill for allowing compensation to the members of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, and to the officers of both Houses, was read the third time:

And, the question being put that the said bill do pass,

It was resolved in the affirmative,

Ayes
Noes

30,

16.

The ayes and noes being demanded by one fifth of the members present,

Those who voted in the affirmative, are,

Resolved, That the title of the said bill be, "An act for allowing compensation to the members of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, and to the officers of both Houses;" and that the Clerk of this House do carry the said bill to the Senate, and desire their concurrence.

The House proceeded to consider the message sent from the Senate, on the fifth instant, insisting on so much of their eighth amendment to the bill, entitled "An act to establish the Treasury Department," as was disagreed to by this House: Whereupon, Resolved, That a conference be desired with the Senate, on the subject-matter of the said eighth amendment; and that Mr. Madison, Mr. Fitzsimons, and Mr. Boudinot, be appointed managers at the same, on the part of this House.

A message in writing was received from the President of the United States, by General Knox, who delivered in the same, together with a statement of the troops in the service of the United States; and then withdrew.

The said message was then read, and is as followeth:

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:

I have directed a statement of the troops in the service of the United States to be laid before you for your information.

These troops were raised by virtue of the resolves of Congress of the twentieth of October, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-six, and the third of October, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, in order to protect the frontiers from the depredations of the hostile Indians; to prevent all intrusions on the public lands; and to facilitate the surveying and selling of the same, for the purpose of reducing the public debt.

As these important objects continue to require the aid of the troops, it is necessary that the establishment thereof should in all respects be conformed by law to the Constitution of the United States.

New York, August 10, 1789.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Ordered, That the said message, with the statement accompanying the same, do lie on the table.

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

Mr. Speaker: The Senate agree to the proposed conference on the subject-matter of so much of their eighth amendment to the bill, entitled "An act to establish the Treasury Department," as was disagreed to by this House, and have appointed managers at the said conference on their part. And then he withdrew.

The House proceeded to consider the report of the committee, on the memorial of Andrew Ellicot, which lay on the table; and, the saine being amended to read as followeth:

"That the survey directed by Congress in their act of June 6th, 1788, be made and returned to the Secretary of the Treasury, without delay; and that the President of the United States be requested to appoint a fit person to complete the same, who shall be allowed five dollars per day, whilst actually employed in the said service, with the expenses necessarily attending the execution thereof."

Resolved, That this House doth agree to the said report.

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

Mr. Clymer, from the committee appointed, presented, according to order, a bill providing for the expenses which may attend negotiations or treaties with the Indian tribes, and the appointment of commissioners for managing the same; which was received, and read the first time.

The orders of the day for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act to establish the judicial courts of the United States," also, on the bill for establishing a land office in and for the Westem territory; and on the bill to provide for the safe-keeping of the acts, records, and seal, of the United States; for the due publication of the acts of Congress; for the authentification of the copies of records; for making out and recording commissions, and prescribing their form; and for establishing the fees of office to be taking for making such commissions; and for copies of records and papers; were read, and postponed

until to-morrow.

And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11.

A bill providing for the expenses which may attend negotiations or treaties with the Indian tribes, and the appointment of commissioners for managing the same, was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-day.

A petition from Englebert Kemmena, of the city of New York, was presented to the House, and read, praying that he may receive payment for certain medicines and services, which, as a surgeon, he rendered to the army during the late war.

Also, a petition of Atcheson Thompson, of the city of New York, praying that he may receive payment for sundry articles of clothing and other supplies, furnished to George M. White Eyes, an Indian youth of the Delaware tribe, by order of the Presi dent of the United States.

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

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a committee of the Whole House on the bill providing for the expenses which may attend negotiations or treaties with the Indian tribes, and the appointment of commissioners for managing the same.

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, had the said bill under consideration, and gone through the same, and made several amendments thereto; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same were twice read, and agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That the said bill, with the amendments, be engrossed, and read the third time to-morrow.

On motion,

Ordered, That the message sent from the President of the United States, by General Knox, the 10th instant, with the statement accompanying the same, be referred to the consideration of a Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

On motion, That the House do come to the following resolution:

Resolved, That, in case of refusal of the Creek Indians to treat, or on treaty to agree to such articles and terms, as to the commissioners to be appointed shall appear neces sary and just, the President of the United States shall be, and he is hereby, authorized to raise, or cause to be raised, such number of troops, on the pay and establishment of the United States, or to call forth and embody such proportion of the militia of the States of South Carolina and Georgia, as will secure and protect, by such proper posts as he may think necessary, the inhabitants of the State of Georgia from the invasion and farther inroads of the Creek Indians: Provided, That the whole number of men so to be raised on the establishment of the United States, shall not exceed —, nor be continued for a longer term than - And provided, also, That the whole number

of the militia, so to be called forth and embodied, shall not exceed ; nor shall any one person be obliged to serve more than And the said militia, when in actual service, shall be entitled to the pay and emoluments of the troops of the United States: Ordered, That the said motion be committed to the consideration of a Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

On motion,

Ordered, That Mr. Peter Muhlenberg and Mr. Wadsworth be added to the committee appointed to bring in a bill, or bills, providing a proper system of regulation for the militia of the United States.

Mr. Wadsworth, from the committee appointed to confer with a committee of the Senate, to consider of, and report when it will be convenient and proper that an adjournment of the present session of Congress should take place, made a report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

The several orders of the day for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act to establish the judicial courts of the United States;" also, on the bill for establishing a land-office in and for the Western territory; and on the bill to provide for the safe-keeping of the acts, records, and seal, of the United States; for the due publication of the acts of Congress; for the authentication of the copies of records; for making out and recording commissions, and prescribing their form; and for establishing the fees of office to be taken for making such com.niss.ons; and for copies of records and papers; were read, and postponed until to-morrow.

And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12.

An engrossed bill providing for the expenses which may attend negotiations or treaties with the Indian tribes, and the appointment of commissioners for managing the same, was read the third time.

A motion was made and seconded, to fill up the first blank therein with the sum of forty thousand dollars.

And, the question being put thereupon,

It was resolved in the affirmative,

Ayes
Noes

28,

23.

The ayes and noes being demanded by one-fifth of the members present,

Those who voted in the affirmative, are,