seamen as may have been impressed into the service of any foreign Power; and, also, to report a mode of furnishing American seamen with such evidence of their citizenship as may protect them from foreign impressment in future; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Muhlenberg 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. Mr. William Smith, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported an appropriation for the Military Establishment of the United States, for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six ; which was read, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1796. A petition and memorial of Lawrence Muse, Collector for the District of Tappahan nock, in the State of Virginia, was presented to the House and read, stating the insufficiency of the compensation allowed him by law, and praying that the same may be increased, and rendered more adequate to his services. Ordered, That the said petition and memorial be referred to the Committee of Com merce and Manufactures; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. A petition of Lewis Joseph Beaulieu, late a Captain in Count Pulaski's legion, was presented to the House and read, praying that he may receive ten years' payment of the pension granted him for military services rendered the United States, during the late war, in lieu of the total redemption of the principal of his said pension. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of Claims. A memorial of Richard Claiborne was presented to the House and read, praying that Congress will encourage the introduction of the useful arts from abroad, by granting to original procurers of inventions, being Americans, such protection or privilege as to them shall seem reasonable and proper. Ordered, That the said memorial do lie on the table. The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, communicating"that the statements required by the resolutions of the second of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five, and the twenty-sixth of February, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six, are preparing with all possible despatch; and that he expects to be able to transmit them at the close of the present week.” The said letter was read, and ordered to lie on the table. Ordered, That Mr. Heister have leave to be absent from the service of this House for two weeks. The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the report of the Committee of Ways and Means, of an appropriation for the Military Establishment of the United States, for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Muhlenberg reported that the committee had, according to order, 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 twice read, and agreed to by the House, as followeth : Resolved, That the sum of five hundred thousand dollars be appropriated towards defraying the expense of the Military Establishment for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six. Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in, pursuant to the said resolution, and that the Committee of Ways and Means do prepare and bring in the same. A message, in writing, was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Dandridge, his Secretary, as followeth: Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives: The treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, concluded between the United States of America and his Britannic Majesty, having been duly ratified, and the ratifications having been exchanged at London on the twenty-eighth day of October, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five, I have directed the same to be promulgate; and herewith transmit a copy thereof for the information of Congress. United States, March 1st, 1796. G. WASHINGTON The said message and treaty were read, and ordered to be committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union. 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 appointed to inquire and report whether any, and what, legislative provision is necessary for the relief of such American seamen as may have been impressed into the service of any foreign Power; and, also, to report a mode of furnishing American seamen with such evidence of their citizenship as may protect them from foreign impressment in future; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Muhlenberg reported that the committee had, according to order, again had the said report under consideration, and come to several resolutions thereupon; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same were severally twice read, amended, and agreed to by the House, as follow: Resolved, That provision ought to be made for the support of two or more agents, to be appointed by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; the one of which agents shall reside in the kingdom of Great Britain, and the others at such places as the President shall direct; whose duty it shall be to inquire into the situation of such American citizens as shall have been, or hereafter may be, impressed or detained on board of any foreign vessel; to endeavor, by all legal means, to obtain their release, and to render an account of all foreign impressments of American citizens to the Government of the United States. Resolved, That proper offices ought to be provided, where every seaman, being a citizen of the United States (on producing evidence, duly authenticated, of his birth, naturalization, or residence within the United States, and under their protection, on the third day of September, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three,) may have such evidence registered, and may receive a certificate of his citizenship. Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in, pursuant to the said resolutions; and that Mr. Livingston, Mr. Bourne, Mr. Swanwick, Mr. Samuel Smith, and Mr. William Smith, do prepare and bring in the same. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1796. A petition of Erasmus Pierce, of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, was presented to the House and read, praying relief, in the case of a bond given for excise duties, by Joseph, John, and James Pierce, for which certain property of the petitioner, who became security to the said bond, to the amount of six thousand dollars, was attached and sold; in consequence whereof, he is reduced to seek a precarious subsistence by labor. 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. A petition of Thomas Goodrum, of the county of Mecklenberg, in the State of Virginia, was presented to the House and read, praying relief, in consideration of a wound received at the battle of Brandywine, whilst a non-commissioned officer in the fifteenth regiment of the Virginia line on continental establishment, during the late war, which has rendered him incapable of obtaining his livelihood by labor. Ordered, That the said petition, together with the petition of Comfort Sands and others, presented the twentieth of January, one thousand seven hundred and ninetyone, and the several reports of the Secretary of the Treasury, and of a Select Committee thereon, be referred to the Committee of Claims. The House resumed the consideration of the report of the committee to whom were referred the amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act for establishing trading-houses with the Indian tribes:" Whereupon, Resolved, That this House doth agree to the second, third, and fifth, amendments to the third section; and also to the amendment to the eighth section. Resolved, That this House doth disagree to the first, fourth, and sixth amendments to the third section; also to the amendment to strike out the fourth and fifth sections, and to insert a new section in lieu thereof; and also to the amendment to strike out the seventh section of the said bill. Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed the bill, entitled " An act for the relief of Israel Loring." And then he withdrew. On motion, Ordered, That a letter from the Secretary of War, accompanying sundry reports and statements relative to the Naval equipment of the United States, addressed to the chairman of the committee appointed to report on that subject, be referred to the Committee of the Whole House to whom is committed the report of the committee on the said Naval equipment. The House, according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill establishing offices for the sale of the lands in the territory Northwest of the river Ohio; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Sedgwick reported that the committee had, according to order, again had the said bill under consideration, and made a farther progress therein. Resolve, That this House will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the said bill. Mr. William Smith, from the Committee of Ways and Means, presented, according to order, a bill making a partial appropriation for the support of the military establishment for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six; which was received and read the first time. On motion, The said bill was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1796. Mr. New, from the Joint Committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined an enrolled bill, entitled "An act for the relief of Israel Loring," and had found the same to be truly enrolled: Whereupon, Mr. Speaker signed the said enrolled bill. Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed the bill, entitled "An act providing relief, for a limited time, in certain cases of invalid registers." The Senate also insist on their amendments, disagreed to by this House, to the bill, entitled "An act for establishing trading houses with the Indian tribes." And then he withdrew. The House, according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill establishing offices for the sale of the lands in the Territory Northwest of the river Ohio; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Sedgwick reported that the committee had, according to order, again had the said bill 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 bill. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1796. A petition of Robert W. Finley and Richard C. Tilton, in behalf of sundry inhabitants of the State of Kentucky, was presented to the House and read, praying a grant of a certain quantity of land on the East side of Sciota river, in the territory Northwest of the river Ohio, on such terms and conditions as to the wisdom of Congress shall seem meet. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of the Whole House to whom is committed the bill establishing offices for the sale of the lands in the Territory Northwest of the river Ohio. A memorial of sundry inhabitants of the towns of Beverly and Manchester, in the State of Massachusetts, whose names are thereunto subscribed, was presented to the House and read, praying that a light-house may be erected on the Northern end of Ba ker's Island, in the said State. Also, a petition of sundry inhabitants of the City of Hudson, in the State of New York, whose names are thereunto subscribed, in opposition to a petition of sundry mer chants and masters of vessels trading from Lansingburg, Waterford, and Troy, to the city of New York, presented the twenty-sixth of January last. Also, a petition of William Gerrish, of the town of Portsmouth, in the State of NewHampshire, praying that the moiety of a penalty of one thousand dollars, accruing to 1796.] the use of the United States, which has been recovered against him by a judgment of the District Court of Maine, for a breach of the revenue laws, of which the petitioner was ignorant at the time of committing the same, may be remitted. Ordered, That the said memorial and petitions be referred to the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. A petition of Elisha Gordon, of the City of Philadelphia, was presented to the House and read, praying the renewal of a certain loan office certificate, the property of the petitioner, which was lost or destroyed some time in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to Mr. Findley, Mr. Coit, Mr. Sherburne, Mr. Cabell, and Mr. Winn; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House." A petition of David Covell, of the State of Massachusetts, by Henry Dearborn, his agent, was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for his services on board the brigantine Cabot, in the Navy of the United States, during the late war, of which he has been hitherto debarred by the operation of the acts of limitation. Also, a petition of the representatives of Thomas Smith, deceased, late Commissioner of Loans for the State of Pennsylvania, praying that the accounting officers of the Treasury may be authorized to allow interest on the claim which may be found due to the deceased, on a final settlement of his accounts with the United States. Also, a memorial of Severinus Koch, of the county of Montgomery, in the State of New York, praying relief, in consideration of a wound received whilst a captain of mili tia in the actual service of the United States, during the late war, which has rendered him incapable of obtaining his livelihood by labor. Also, a petition of Leonard Moseley, of the State of Virginia, praying compensation for services rendered, and injuries sustained, whilst a soldier in the Army of the United States, during the late war. Ordered, That the said petitions and memorial be referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. New, from the Joint Committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined an enrolled bill, entitled "An act providing relief, for a limited time, in certain cases of invalid registers," and had found the same to be truly enrolled: Whereupon, Mr. Speaker signed the said enrolled bill. Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith. Mr. Goodhue, from the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures, to whom was referred the petition of Henry Messonnier, made a report; which was read, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next. Mr. Tracey, from the Committee of Claims, to whom were referred sundry reports from the Secretary of War, accompanying statements in the cases of claimants to be placed on the pension list of the United States, who have obtained certificates from the Judges of the Circuit Courts, signed as Commissioners, and from the District Judges, made two reports; which were severally read, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next. Mr. Tracey, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the petition of Maria Butler, made a report; which was read, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next. The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill making a partial appropriation for the support of the Military establishment, for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six ; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Sedgwick reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill under consideration, and made Do amendment thereto. Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed, and read the third time on Monday next. Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill, entitled "An act for the relief of persons imprisoned for debt;" to which they desire the concurrence of this House. The Senate have also passed the bill, entitled "An act for allowing compensation to the Members of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, and to certain officers of both Houses," with an amendment; to which they desire the concurrence of this House. And then he withdrew. The House proceeded to consider the said amendment, and the same being read. was agreed to. Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith. VOL. II,-58 The bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act for the relief of persons imprisoned for debt," was read the first time. The House, according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill establishing offices for the sale of the lands in the Territory Northwest of the river Ohio; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed he chair, and Mr. Sedgwick reported that the committee had, according to order, again had the said bill under consideration, 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 re-committed to Mr. William Smith, Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Hartley, Mr. Kitchell, Mr. Glenn, Mr. Dearborn, Mr. Williams, Mr. Maclay, and Mr. Page. On motion, Resolved, That the Committee on the Post Office act be instructed to inquire and report whether any, and what, impediments exist to the regular transportation of the mail through the Southern States, and, if any, the catises thereof. The several orders of the day were further postponed until Monday next. MONDAY, MARCH 7, 1796. An engrossed bill making a partial appropriation for the support of the Military Establishment, for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six, was read the third time. Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be "An act making a partial ap propriation for the support of the Military Establishment, for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six." Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said bill to the Senate, and desire their concurrence. The bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act for the relief of persons imprisoned for debt," was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow. A petition of the Humane Society of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, was presented to the House and read, praying that a light-house may be established on Cape Cod, in the said State. Also, a petition of the proprietors of the glass manufactory of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, praying the aid of Government to enable them to prosecute their undertaking, by imposing an additional duty on window glass of a certain size, imported from foreign countries, or by allowing such bounty upon each sheet of window glass, made at the said manufactory, as to the wisdom of Congress shall seem meet. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. A petition of Jacob Valentine, of the borough of Norfolk, in the State of Virginia, was presented to the House and read, praying to be placed on the pension list of the United States, in consideration of injuries received whilst a Captain in Colonel Gibson's regiment of the Virginia State troops, in Continental service, during the late war. Also, a petition of Nathaniel Harris, of Hanover county, in the State of Virginia, a corporal in the Army of the United States, during the late war, to the same effect. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee of Claims. The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, accompanying sundry statements, made in pursuance of the resolutions of the second of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five, and the twenty-sixth of February, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six, respecting the internal revenues of the United States; as, also, an explanatory report thereon, by the Commissioner of the Revenue; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table. Mr. New, from the Joint Committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined an enrolled bill, entitled "An act for allowing compensation to the members of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, and to certain officers of both Houses," and had found the same to be truly enrolled: Whereupon,, Mr. Speaker signed the said enrolled bill. Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith. Mr. Goodhue, from the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures, to whom were referred the several memorials and petitions of the Marine Society of Salem; of the merchants and others of the towns of Beverly and Marblehead; of Edward Simpson and others; of Messrs. Valck and Company; and of George Knowel Jackson; made a report · |