and the seizure of American vessels [laden with provisions] contrary to the clearest rights of neutral nations-whether this be viewed as the construction meant to be given to any articles in the treaty, or as contrary to, and an infraction of, the true meaning and spirit thereof-the House cannot but regard it as incumbent on them, in fidelity to the trust reposed in them, to forbear, under such circumstances, taking, at present, any active measures on the subject: Therefore, "Resolved, That, under the circumstances aforesaid, and with such information as the House possess, it is not expedient, at this time, to concur in passing the laws necessary for carrying the said treaty into effect." Ordered, That the said motion be committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 1796. Ordered, That Mr. Sherburne have leave to be absent from the service of this House for four weeks. Petitions of sundry inhabitants of the Western Counties of Pennsylvania, whose names are thereunto subscribed, were presented to the House and read, respectively praying that the House of Representatives will pass all laws necessary for carrying into effect the treaty lately concluded between the United States and Great Britain. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union." Mr. Abiel Foster, from the committee appointed on the eleventh instant, to inquire into the expediency of preventing, for a limited time, the exportation of Indian corn, or corn meal, rye, or rye meal, from the United States, made a repor; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same was twice read, and on the question put thereupon, agreed to by the House, as followeth : That, in some parts of the United States, owing to an unfavorable season the last year, and other causes, there exists a scarcity of the articles referred to the consideration of the committee, but that, generally, there is a plentiful supply. That, notwithstanding the prices of those articles are high, yet they do not generally exceed the present enhanced prices of labor, and other articles. The recent information of the state of foreign markets in Europe and other countries, does not authorize the expec tation of any considerable exportation of those articles from the United States. That many of the principal seaport towns appear to be well supplied with the articles in question, not only sufficient for their own consumption, but in such abundance, as to be able to supply other parts of the United States, where a scarcity exists; and, from the information received by the committee, it is probable these markets will be resort ed to, as affording a prospect of better prices than can be expected from foreign markets. The committee also find that merchant mills and stores, in several parts of the interior country, are well supplied with very considerable quantities of the articles referred to their consideration, as well as with wheat and flour. That the prices of the latter have fallen very considerably within a short time past: the committee, therefore, beg leave to submit to the House the following resolution, to wit: Resolved, That it is inexpedient to prohibit the exportation of Indian corn, coru meal, rye, or rye meal. The House proceeded to consider the third resolution reported yesterday, from the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, which lay on the table; and the said resolution being twice read at the Clerk's table, was, on the question put thereupon, agreed to by the House, as followeth: Resolved, That it is expedient to pass the laws necessary for carrying into effect the treaty lately negotiated between the United States and the Dey and Regency of Algiers. Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in, pursuant to the said resolution, and also to the first and second resolutions agreed to yesterday; and that Mr. Hillhouse, Mr. Sedg wick, and Mr. Gallatin, do prepare and bring in the same. The House, according to the standing order of the day, resolved itself into a Com mittee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; and, after some time spent there in, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Muhlenberg reported that the committee had, according to order, had the state of the Union under cons deration, but come to no resolution thereupon. Mr. New, from the Joint Committee for Eurolled Bills, reported that the committee did, yesterday, wait on the President of the United States, and present for his approbation two enrolled bills; one entitled "An act for establishing trading houses with the Indian tribes; and another entitled "An act supplementary to an act, entitled 'An act to provide a Naval armament;" also, an enrolled resolve "directing further returns in the cases of claimants for invalid pensions." The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. SATURDAY, APRIL 16. 1796. A petition of Charles Colvill, of the City of Philadelphia, was presented to the House and read, praying the reimbursement of a certain sum of money, which the petitioner has obtained on loan for the payment of his ransom from slavery among the Algerines, and also for his expenses in travelling from Algiers to the United States. 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. On motion, Resolved, That the Committee of Ways and Means be instructed to inquire whether the Bank of the United States are willing to continue the loans heretofore made by them to Government, in anticipation of the public revenue, or any part thereof, by new loans, on terms similar to those on which the said anticipations were obtained. The House, according to the standing order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Muhlenberg reported that the committee had, according to order, had the state of the Union under consideration, but come to no resolution thereupon. 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 Commerce and Manufac tures, to whom were referred the memorials and petitions of the Humane Society of Boston, of the Marine Society of Boston, of the Marine Society of Newburyport, of Joshua Johnson, of Gurdon Backus and David Meade Randolph, of William Rotch and Sons, of David Pearce and others, of Moses Myers, of Philip Finney, and of Samuel Brown; 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 two resolutious thereupon; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table. Ordered, That the said resolutions do lie on the table. Resolved, That this House will, on Monday next, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the said report. The several orders of the day were further postponed until Monday next. MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1796. Representations and petitions of sundry citizens and inhabitants of Cumberland County, in the State of Pennsylvania, whose names are thereunto subscribed, to the same effect with others from the States of Vermont, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia, on the subject of the treaty lately negotiated between the United States and Great Britain, and in opposition thereto, were presented to the House and read. Ordered, That the said representations and petitions be referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. A petition of sundry inhabitants of the County of Harrison, in the State of Virginia, whose names are thereunto subscribed, was presented to the House and read, praying that a post road may be established from Morgantown to Clarksburg, in the said State. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of the Whole House to whom is committed the report of the committee appointed to inquire if any, and what, alterations are necessary to be made in the act, entitled "An act to establish the post office and post roads within the United States." A petition of sundry inhabitants of the town of Taunton, in the State of Massachusetts, whose names are thereunto subscribed, was presented to the House and read, praying that the said town of Taunton may be made a port of delivery. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of the Whole House to whom is committed the report of the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures, on the petitions of the Humane Society of Boston, and others. The petitions of David Scudder and Eleazer Scudder, of the town of Barnstable, in the State of Massachusetts, owners of the schooners Polly and Dolphin, of Barnstable, were presented to the House and read, praying that they may receive the bounty allowed by law to vessels employed in carrying on the cod fisheries of the United States; the payment of which has been refused, in consequence of the agreement between the owners, masters, and fishermen, of the said schooners, not having expressed that each man should receive his share of the neat proceeds of the voyage, in proportion to the number of fish he might obtain. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures. On motion, Resolved, That the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures be instructed to in quire into the propriety of making effectual provision for preventing the kidnapping negroes and mulattoes, and carrying them out of the States, contrary to the laws of the respective States. Mr. Hillhouse, from the committee appointed, presented, according to order, a bill making an appropriation for defraying the expenses which may arise in carrying into effect the treaty made between the United States and the King of Spain; 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 Committer of the Whole House to-morrow. Mr. New, from the Joint Committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined an enrolled bil. entitled "An act authorizing and directing the Secreta ry of War to place certain pe sons, therein named, on the pension list," 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. Hillhouse, from the committee appointed, presented, according to order, a bill making appropriations for defraying the expenses which may arise in carrying into ef fect a treaty made between the United States and certain Indian tribes Northwest of the River Ohio; 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. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have appointed Mr. Marshall of the Joint Committee for Enrolled Bills, on their part, in the room of Mr. Paine, who has obtained leave of absence. And then he withdrew. Mr. Baldwin, from the committee appointed, presented according to order, a bill to ascertain and fix the military establishment of 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 Thursday next. A message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Craik, his Secretary, notifying that the President did, this day, approve and sign an act, which originated in this House, entitled "An act for establishing trading houses with the Indian tribes;" also, a resolve "directing further returns in the cases of claimants for invalid pensions." Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith. The House, according to the standing order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Muhlenberg reported that the committee had, according to order, had the state of the Union under consideration, but come to no resolution thereupon. A memorial of sundry citizens of Charleston, in the State of South Carolina, whose names are thereunto subscribed, was presented to the House and read, praying that such measures may be adopted, as Congress in their wisdom may deem proper, to indemnify the memorialists for the property which has been unjustly taken from them by the armed vessels of the British, when in the regular pursuit of their commerce. Ordered, That the said memorial be referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. William Smith, from the Committee of Ways and Means, to whom were refer red, on the seventh instant, certain parts of the estimate relative to the treaty between the United States and the Dey and Regency of Algiers, made a report; which was read, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House immediately. The House accordingly resolved itself into the said committee; 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 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 several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 1796. The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Muhlenberg reported that the committee had,' according to order, had the state of the Union under consideration, but come to resolution thereupon. Mr. New, from the Joint Committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee did, this day, wait on the President of the United States, and present for his approba tion an enrolled bill, entitled "An act authorizing and directing the Secretary of War to place certain persons therein named on the pension list." The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bil making an appropriation for defraying the expenses which may arise in carrying into effect the treaty made between the United States and the King of Spain; 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 bill under consideration, and made no amendment thereto. Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed, and read the third time to-morrow. The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill making appropriations for defraying the expenses which may arise in carrying into effect a treaty made between the United States and certain Indian tribes Northwest of the River Ohio; 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 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 engrossed, and read the third time to-morrow. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1796. An engrossed bill making an appropriation for defraying the expenses which may arise in carrying into effect the treaty made between the United States and the King of Spain, 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 making an appropriation for defraying the expenses which may arise in carrying into effect the treaty made between the United States and the King of Spain." Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said bill to the Senate, and desire their concurrence. An engrossed bill making appropriations for defraying the expenses which may arise in carrying into effect a treaty made between the United States and certain Indian tribes Northwest of the River Ohio, was read the third time, and a blank therein filled up. Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be, "An act making appropriations for defraying the expenses which may arise in carrying into effect a treaty made between the United States and certain Indian tribes Northwest of the River Ohio." Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said bill to the Senate, and desire their concurrence. A petition of Barnt de Klyn, of Burlington county, in the State of New Jersey, was presented to the House and read, praying the renewal of certain loan office certificates, the property of the petitioner, which were stolen by his negro servant, some time in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five. Also, a petition of Samuel Edy, of the county of Bristol, in the State of Massachu setts, praying relief, in the case of the certificates of pay granted for his services, as a soldier in the fourth regiment of the Massachusetts line, on Continental establishment, during the late war, which have been unjustly detained from him by the Paymaster of the said regiment. Also, a petition of Mary Fowke, heiress and executrix of Jane Stobo, late of the State of South Carolina, deceased, praying the liquidation and settlement of a claim for sup plies furnished by the deceased to the Army of the United States, during the late war. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee of Claims. Petitions of sundry merchants, traders, and inhabitants, of the city of Philadelphia, whose names are thereunto subscribed, were presented to the House and read, praying that Congress will pass all laws necessary for carrying into effect the treaty lately ne gotiated between the United States and Great Britain. Also, the petitions of sundry other inhabitants of the said city of Philadelphia, and its vicinity, whose names are thereunto subscribed, in opposition thereto. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. On motion, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into, and make a statement of, the number of lots of land, together with the number of acres they contain, as near as may be, that are reserved for the future disposition of Congress, in the sale of lands made to the Ohio Company and others; that they consider the expediency for Govern ment, at this time, to make provision for the sale thereof; and that they report by bill or otherwise. Ordered, That Mr. Madison, Mr. Henderson, and Mr. Baldwin, be appointed a committee, pursuant to the said resolution. A message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Craik, his Secretary, notifying that the President did, this day, approve and sign an act, which originated in this House, entitled "An act authorizing and directing the Secretary of War to place certain persons therein named on the pension list." 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 and protection of American seamen," with several amendments, to which they desire the concurrence of this House. And then he withdrew, The House, according to the standing order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Muhlenberg reported that the committee had, according to order, had the state of the Union under consideration, but come to no resolution thereupon. Mr. Hillhouse, from the committee appointed, presented, according to order, a bill making an appropriation for defraying the expenses which may arise in carrying into effect the treaty made between the United States and the Dey and Regency of Algiers ; 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, APRIL 21, 1796. A petition of sundry inhabitants of the city of Philadelphia, whose names are thereun to subscribed, in opposition to the treaty lately negotiated between the United States and Great Britain, was presented to the House, and read. Also, a memorial of sundry citizens of the State of New Jersey, whose names are thereunto subscribed, praying that the House of Representatives will pass all laws necessary for carrying the said treaty into effect. Also, the memorials of sundry merchants, traders, and inhabitants of the city of Philadelphia, whose names are thereunto subscribed, to the same effect. Ordered, That the said petition and memorials be referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. |