The second amendmest, to strike out the last section, in the words following, to wit: "And be it further enacted, That year's half-pay shall be allowed to all commissioned officers, who shall serve for a term not less than three years, and until the Army shall be discharged," was, on the question put thereupon, agreed to by the HouseYeas 64, nays 24. The yeas and nays being demanded by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Theodorus Bailey, Abraham Clark, Joshua Coit, William J. Dawson, Jonathan Dayton, Daniel Heister, James Hillhouse, Samuel Holten, John Wilkes Kittera, Amasa Learned, Nathaniel Macon, James Madison, Joseph M'Dowell, Alexander Mebane, William Montgomery, Andrew Moore, William Vans Murray, Joseph Neville, Richard Bland Lee, Samuel Smith, William Smith, Thomas Sprigg, Uriah Tracey, Jonathan Trumbull, Peter Van Gaasbeck, Jeremiah Wadsworth, and The other amendment, reported by the Committee of the Whole House, was further amended at the Clerk's table, and on the question put thereupon, agreed to by the House. The House then proceeded further to amend the said bill, at the Clerk's table; and on a motion made and seconded, to add to the end thereof, the following section, by way of amendment, to wit: "And be it further enacted, That, if any officer shall die by reason of wounds, or otherwise, while in the service of the United States, and shall leave a widow, or if no widow, shall leave a child or children, under age, such widow, or if no widow, such child or children, shall be entitled to, and receive the half of the monthly pay, to which the deceased was entitled, at the time of his death, for and during the term of years; and in case of the death or intermarriage of such widow, before the expiration of the said term of years, the half-pay, for the remainder of the term, shall go to the support of the child or children of such deceased officer, while under the age of sixteen years; and, in like manner, the allowance to the child or children of such deceased, where there is no widow, shall be paid no longer than while there is a child or children under the age aforesaid: Provided, That no greater sum shall be allowed, in any case, to the widow, or to the child or children of any officer, than the half-pay of a Lieutenant Colonel:" It was resolved in the affirmative, 5 Yeas... 54, 32. The yeas and nays being demanded by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative, are, William Irvine, Amasa Learned, Richard Bland Lee, William Lyman, John Watts, Richard Winn, and Joseph Winston. Ordered, That the said bill, with the amendments, be engrossed, and read the third time to-morrow. A message, in writing, was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Dandridge, his Secretary, as followeth: UNITED STATES, January 21st, 1794. Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives: It is with satisfaction I announce to you, that the alterations which have been made by law, in the original plan for raising a duty on spirits distilled within the United States, and on stills, co-operating with better information, have had a considerable influence, in obviating the difficulties which have embarrassed that branch of the public revenue. But the obstacles which have been experienced, though lessened, are not yet entirely surmounted, and it would seem that some farther legislative provisions may usefully be super-added; which leads me to recall the attention of Congress to the subject. Among the matters which may demand regulation, is the effect, in point of organization, produced by the separation of Kentucky from the State of Virginia; and the situation, with regard to the law, of the Territories Northwest and Southwest of the Ohio. The laws respecting light-house establishments require, as a condition of their permanent maintenance, at the expense of the United States, a complete cession of soil and jurisdiction. The cessions of different States having been qualified with a reservation of the right of serving legal process within the ceded jurisdiction, are understood to be inconclusive, as annexing a qualification not consonant with the terms of the law. I present this circumstance to the view of Congress, that they may judge whether any alteration ought to be made. As it appears to be conformable with the intention of the "ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States Northwest of the River Ohio," although it is not expressly directed that the laws of that Territory should be laid before Congress, I now transmit to you a copy of such as have been passed from July to December, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, inclusive; being the last which have been received by the Secretary of State. G. WASHINGTON. The said message was read, and ordered to lie on the table. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22. An engrossed bill for completing, and better supporting, the military establishment of the United States, was read the third time. Ordered, That the said bill be re-committed to Mr. Beatty, Mr. Irvine, Mr. Jeremiah Wadsworth, Mr. Dearborn, and Mr. Van Gaasbeck. Mr. Giles, from the committee appointed, presented, according to order, a bill to establish an uniform system of bankruptcy throughout the United States; 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 on Monday se'nnight. A petition of John Robbe, of the State of New Hampshire, late a serjeant in General Starke's Brigade, was presented to the House and read, praying to be placed on the list of pensioners, in consideration of wounds and injuries 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. A petition of the manufacturers of paint, in the towns of Baltimore and Alexandria, was presented to the House and read, praying that the duties imposed on dry paints, imported into the United States, may be taken off, and equivalent duties laid on foreign paints, ground in oil. Also, A petition of the dealers in oil and painters' colors, whose names are thereunto subscribed, praying that the duties on dry paints may be so reduced, as to afford encouragement for grinding them within the United States. Ordered, That the said petitions do lie on the table. The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of State, enclosing the copy of a letter from Mr. Jefferson to Mr. Hammond, dated fifth of December, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, transmitted pursuant to a resolution of this House, of the twentieth instant; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Harrison, from the committee to whom was referred the petition of Lucy Clark, made a report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. Ordered, That a committee be appointed to report the expediency of establishing a Light house on the Island of Seguin, at the mouth of the River Kennebeck, in the District of Maine; and that Mr. Dearborn, Mr. Benjamin Bourne, and Mr. Tracey, be the said committee. The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of War, communicating farther information from James Seagrove, Agent of Indian Affairs in the Southern Department, relative to a peace with the Creek Indians; 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 Secretary of State on the privileges and restrictions on the commerce of the United States, in foreign countries; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Trumbull 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 in writing was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Dandridge, his Secretary, as followeth: UNITED STATES, 22d January, 1794. Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives: I forward to you extracts from the last advices from our Minister in London, as being connected with communications already made. G. WASHINGTON. The said message and papers were read, and ordered to lie on the table. The House proceeded to consider the report of the committee appointed to inquire into, and report a state of facts, respecting sundry French vessels, which have taken refuge in the ports of the United States, and their opinion on the propriety of remitting the foreign tonnage thereon, and made some progress therein. Mr. Beatty, from the committee to whom was re-committed the bill for completing, and better supporting the military establishment of the United States, reported 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 engrossed, and read the third time to-morrow. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. THURSDAY, JANUARY 23. An engrossed bill for completing, and better supporting the military establishment of the United States, was read the third time, and the blanks therein filled up. Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be, "An act for completing, and better supporting the military establishment of the United States." Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said bill to the Senate, and desire their concurrence. A petition of Jacob Johnston, of the county of Luzerne, in the State of Pennsylvania, was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for losses and injuries sustained in his person and property, by a party of Indians and tories, under the command of Colonel John Butler, during the late war. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to Mr. Heister, Mr. Peleg Wadsworth, and Mr. Niles; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. A petition of Jonathan Titcomb, of Newburyport, in the State of Massachusetts, was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for his services as Brigadier General of Militia of the said State; also, that some allowance may be made for his time and services, while employed in purchasing sundry articles of provision and clothing, for the use of the American Army, 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, again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the report of the Secretary of State, on the privileges and restrictions on the commerce of the United States, in foreign countries; and, after some *ime spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Trumbull 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. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. FRIDAY, JANUARY 24. Ordered, That the letter from the Governor of Kentucky, enclosing a representation from the Legislature of the said State, respecting an adjustment of a claim of that State, against the United States, for the expense of certain expeditions against the Indians, which were laid before the House on the twenty-third day of January, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three, be referrred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with in,struction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. A petition of James Guy, of Iredell county, in the State of North Carolina, Executor of John M'Cafferty, deceased, late a soldier in the third regiment of the South Carolina line, in behalf of himself and others, was presented to the House and read, praying the liquidation and settlement of their claims, for services rendered in the Army of the United States, during the late war. Ordered, That the said petition do lie on the table. A petition of John Staples, late a Sergeant in Captain William Brown's company of Artillery, in the Army of the United Sates, was presented to the House and read, praying that he may receive a balance due him for military services rendered during the late war, which he conceives has been unjustly detained from him, by the commanding Officer of the said Company. 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, again resolved itself into a Commitof the Whole House on the report of the Secretary of State on the privileges and restrictions on the commerce of the United States, in foreign Countries; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Trumbull reported that the committee had, according to order, again had the said report under consideration, and made a further progress therein. Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the said report. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. SATURDAY, JANUARY 25. A petition of William Dewees, of the county of Chester, in the State of Pennsylvania, was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for the value of a dwelling house and other property of the petitioner, which were burnt, or otherwise destroyed by the enemy during the late war. Ordered, That the said petition, together with the petition of James Guy, Executor of John M' Cafferty, deceased, which lay on the table, be referred to Mr. Scott, Mr. Beatty, and Mr. Preston; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. A petition of Seth Hawes, Solomon Hawes, and Dan Hall, executors of Pelatiah Hawes, deceased, was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for property taken for the use of the American Army, during the late war. Also, The petitions of Joseph Travis, and of John Henry Mynard, to the same effect. Ordered, That the said petitions do 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 Secretary of State on the privileges and restrictions on the Commerce of the United States in foreign countries; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Trumbull 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, on Monday next, again resolve itself into a Commitee of the Whole House on the said report. The several orders of the day were further postponed until Monday next. |