1797.]

Mr. Dwight Foster, from the Committee of Claims, to whom were referred the petitions of Samuel Abbot, and others; of John Bennet, in behalf of himself and Abraham Sutton; of Samuel Edy; of Francis Guillow; of Thomas Roche; of Lemuel Snow; of Jo. shua Whitney, by Timothy Winn, his Agent; and of Thomas Wells; made a report ; which was read, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House to

morrow.

On motion,

Ordered, That the Committee of the Whole House to whom was committed, on the ninth ultimo, the bill to amend and repeal, in part, an act, entitled "An act more effectually to provide for the national defence by establishing an uniform Militia throughout the United States," be discharged from the consideration of the same.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill to revive and continue the act passed the thirtieth of May, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six, "to regulate the compensation of Clerks ;" 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 to augment the compensation of the Attorney General of the United States; 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.

Mr. Harper, from the committee to whom was, yesterday, recommitted the bill for raising a further sum of money by additional duties on certain articles imported, and for other purposes, reported an amendatory bill; 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.

Mr. Swanwick, from the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures, presented, according to order, a bill to suspend, in part, the act, entitled "An act to alter and amend the act, entitled 'An act laying certain duties upon snuff and refined sugar," and to grant relief in certain cases arising under the said act; 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 House, according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill making appropriations for the support of Government, and a partial appropriation for the military establishment, for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Mahlenberg 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 engrossed, and read the third

time to-morrow.

Mr. Abiel Foster, from the Joint Committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined an enrolled bill, entitled "An act to alter and amend an act, entitled 'An act to ascertain and fix the military establishment of the United States," 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.

On a motion made and seconded that the House do come to the following resolution : "Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the propriety of the United States either advancing, or ultimately defraying the whole, or part, of the expenses of prosecuting the claims of their citizens, whose property has been captured by the belligerent Powers, and of authorizing the President of the United States to pledge the Faith of the United States for that purpose :"

Ordered, That the said motion be referred to the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures, with instruction to report thereon by bill or otherwise.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the

Whole House on the bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act repealing the limitation to the act in addition to the act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States, and to continue in force the same; 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 read the third time to-morrow. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary:

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed the bill, entitled "An act to accommodate the President," to which they desire the concurrence of this House. And then he withdrew.

The said bill was 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.

Mr. William Smith, from the Committee of Ways and Means, presented, according to order, a bill making appropriations for the Military and Naval establishments, for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven; 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 House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill in addition to the act "making an appropriation to satisfy certain demands attending the late insurrection, and to increase the compensation to jurors and witnesses in the Courts of the United States;" 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 to defray the expense of negotiations with Mediterranean Powers; 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.

On a motion made and seconded, that the House do come to the following resolution: "Resolved, That the injunction of secrecy upon the members of this House, so far as relates to that part of the communication made by the President of the United States, by his message of the ninth of January last, which has been printed, be taken off, and that all future debates and proceedings thereon, be had with open doors :"

A motion was made and seconded to amend the said motion, by inserting, after the words "be taken off," the following words: "together with the letter of Messieurs Barlow and Donaldson, of the fifth of April, one thousand seven hundred and ninetysix."

On the question that the House do agree to the said amendment,

It passed in the negative,

Yeas
Nays.

19,

65.

The yeas and nays being demanded by one fifth of the members present,

Those who voted in the affirmative, are,

Theophilus Bradbury,

Daniel Buck,

Gabriel Christie,

William Craik,

Abiel Foster,

Dwight Foster,

Ezekiel Gilbert,

Nathaniel Macon,

Henry Glen,

William Vans Murray,

And then the main question being taken that the House do agree to the motion as first proposed,

The yeas and nays being demanded by one-fifth of the members présent,

Those who voted in the affirmative, are,

The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow.
And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning ten o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1797.

An engrossed bill making appropriations for the support of Government, and a partial appropriation for the military establishment, for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven, was read the third time.

Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be, "An act making appro priations for the support of Government, for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven."

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

An engrossed bill to augment the compensation of the Attorney General of the United States was read the third time.

Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be, "An act to augment the compensation of the Attorney General of the United States."

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

An engrossed bill in addition to the act "making an appropriation to satisfy certain demands attending the late insurrection, and to increase the compensation to jurors and witnesses in the courts of the United States," was read the third time.

Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be, "An act in addition to the act, entitled 'An act making an appropriation to satisfy certain demands attending the late insurrection; and to increase the compensation to jurors and witnesses in the courts of the United States."

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

An engrossed bill making appropriations to defray the expense of negotiations with Mediterranean Powers was read the third time:

And, on the question that the same do pass,

The yeas and nays being demanded by one-fifth of the members present,

Those who voted in the affirmative, are,

Andrew Moore,

Frederick A. Muhlenberg,
John Nicholas,

Alexander D. Orr,
John Page,
Josiah Parker,
Elisha R. Potter,
John Richards,
Robert Rutherford,
John S. Sherburne,
Samuel Sitgreaves,
Tompson J. Skinner,
Jeremiah Smith,
Nathaniel Smith,
Israel Smith,
Isaac Smith,

Richard Sprigg, jun,
Thomas Sprigg,
Zephaniah Swift,
George Thatcher,
Richard Thomas,
Mark Thomson,
Philip Van Cortlandt,
Joseph B. Varnum,
Peleg Wadsworth, and

John Williams.

Resolved, That the title of the said bill be, "An act authorizing the President of the United States to apply a further sum to the expense of negotiations with the Dey and Regency of Algiers;" and that the Clerk of this House do carry it to the Senate, and desire their concurrence.

An engrossed bill to revive and continue the act passed the thirtieth of May, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six, "to regulate the compensation of Clerks,” was read the third time.

Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be, "An act to revive and continue the act passed the thirtieth of May, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six, entitled 'An act to regulate the compensation of Clerks."

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 repealing the limitation to the act, in addition to the act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States; and to continue in force the same," together with the amendments, agreed to yesterday, was read the third time;

And on the question that the same do pass,

It was resolved in the affirmative.

Resolved, That the title of the said bill be, "An act to continue in force, for a limited time, the act in addition to the act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States."

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

A memorial of John Hobby, Marshal of the District of Maine, in the State of Massachusetts, was presented to the House and read, stating the insufficiency of the fees and

VOL. II.-90