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HISTORY OF CONGRESS.

President's House.

The SPEAKER laid before the House a letter from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES elect, which was read, and is as follows:

WASHINGTON, March 2, 1801.

MARCH, 1801.

The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, on the bill for erecting light-houses on New Point Comfort, and on Smith's Point, in the State of Virginia, and on Faulkner's Island, in Long Island Sound, in the State of ConnectiSIR: I beg leave through you to inform the Honor-cut; and, after some time spent therein, the Comable the House of Representatives of the United mittee rose and reported several amendments States, that I shall take the oath which the Constitu- thereto; which were severally twice read, and tion prescribes to the President of the United States agreed to by the House.

before he enters on the execution of his office, on Wed

nesday, the fourth instant, at twelve o'clock, in the

Senate Chamber.

I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect, sir, your most obedient, and most humble servant, THOMAS JEFFERSON.

Hon. THEODORE SEDGWICK,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Ordered, That said letter do lie on the table.
The SPEAKER laid before the House a letter
from the Governor of Maryland, which was read,

and is as follows:

IN COUNCIL, ANNAPOLIS,

February 26, 1801. SIR: We have the honor to forward to you, for the use of the honorable body over which you preside, a set of the laws of this State, pursuant to a resolution of the Legislature.

We have the honor to be, with great respect, your

obedient servants,

The Hon. THEODORE SEDGWICK,

BEN. OGLE.

Speaker of the House of Representatives. Ordered, That the said letter do lie on the table.

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

morrow.

A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have passed the bill, entitled “ An act making appropriations for the Navy of the United States for the year one thousand eight hundred and one." The Senate have passed the bill, entitled "An act further to alter and to establish certain post roads," with amendments; to which they desire the concurrence of this House. The Senate have passed the bill, entitled "An act to amend the act altering the district of Bermuda Hundred and City Point," with amendments; to which they desire the concurrence of this House.

The House proceeded to consider the amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act directing the mode of estimating certain foreign coins and currencies, and of making out invoices in certain cases :" Whereupon,

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

The House proceeded to consider the amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act to amend the act altering the district of Bermuda Hundred and City Point:" Whereupon, Resolved, That this House doth agree to the said amendments.

The House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House on the amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act making The House proceeded to consider the amendappropriations for the support of Government, for the year one thousand eight hundred and one;"ments proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act further to alter and to establish certain and, after some time spent therein, the Committee rose, and reported their agreement to the same, post roads:" Whereupon, with several amendments.

And, on the question that the House do agree with the Committee of the Whole in their agreement to the said amendments, with amendments, it was resolved in the affirmative.

The House proceeded to consider the amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act giving a right of pre-emption to certain persons who have contracted with John Cleves Symmes, or his associates, for lands lying between the Miami rivers, in the Territory of the United States Northwest of the Ohio:" Whereupon,

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

The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, on the bill further to amend the act, entitled "An act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States;" and, after some time spent therein, the Committee rose and reported two amendments thereto; which 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.

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

Mr. MACON, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the several petitions of Jacob Barnitz, Philip Sloan, Thomas Parker, Peter Charles L'Enfant, Mile Riley, Charles Hyde, Margaret Culbertson, Mary Hay, James Denniston, Mathias Shroyer, Philip Lightfoot, William Ray, John Followell, John Hall, Leonard Jarvis, William Milton and others, and the bill for the relief of William Nichols, made a report; which was read and considered: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the Committee of Claims be discharged therefrom, and that the further consideration of the said petitions and bill be postponed until the next session of Congress.

PRESIDENT'S HOUSE.

The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill for the further accommodation of the President of the United States.

The object of this bill was to apply six thousand dollars, remaining of the appropriation of $15,000, during the last session, for furnishing the President's house-together with the proceeds of such

furniture as, being unfit for use, might be sold, to procure such additional furniture as might be necessary.

Mr. HARPER contended that the sum was too small for so large and elegant a house as was provided for that officer. Though the house was neither too large nor too elegant, yet the furniture was by no means sufficient to furnish it in that style it demanded. Perhaps, he said, the furniture might produce five thousand dollars, which added to the six thousand dollars, and to that added ten thousand dollars, he would now move as an amendment to the bill. This amounted to twenty thousand dollars, for furniture, which he believed was as small a quantity as would be any way adequate to that place.

Mr. NICHOLAS said the committee (of which he was one) had endeavored to procure the best possible information of the state of the furniture now in the house; they were well satisfied that the sum in hand which the bill proposed to expend, with the proceeds of sale from such as might be unfit, would be perfectly competent to that decency of style which the manner of living of that officer could require. But, he said, he should despair of forming an agreement of opinions as to the sum requisite, without the style could be ascertained in which it was desirable to support the President of the United States.

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thousand on hand, a gentleman wanted to give ten thousand more! For what, he would ask? If that sum was not enough, no sum whatever would be enough. He believed this sum would be sufficient for fifty years service, and he hoped the House would not appropriate a farther sum. If the style of the furniture was raised so very high, he should not be surprised soon if there was to be a proposition to make the salary a little more adequate to the style of the furniture, and raise that too, to bring him up to the style of his furniture. Mr. BAYARD wished not to extend it so far as the gentleman from South Carolina. As heretofore fourteen thousand dollars had been appropriated, he would propose to this six thousand dollars, supposing the proceeds of sales to amount to three thousand dollars, to add fourteeen thousand, a medium which he considered sufficient.

Mr. HARPER observed that the proceeds of the sales had been usually granted in addition to the money appropriated. He wished the sum of ten thousand dollars, as proposed, to be appropriated; however, as objections were made, he was willing to modify it, and make it eight thousand dollars, which, with the six thousand remaining, would make the usual sum of fourteen thousand dollars; to which sum he hoped no gentleman would object. Mr. VARNUM reminded the Committee, that the fourteen thousand dollars first given, were to furMr. S. SMITH hoped the motion would not pre-nish an empty house; the furniture then purchasvail. He could see no necessity whatever for more to be appropriated than the unexpended six thousand dollars proposed. In twelve years, he said, there had been thirty thousand dollars used for this object. The present furniture, with what this money and the proceeds of the sale would procure, would make a very handsome quantity, and be fully adequate to the wants of the House. From his observation in such parts of the house as were occupied, he could perceive no want of furniture nor elegance.

Mr. CRAIK differed in opinion with his colleague (Mr. SMITH) that the style of the rooms now furnished was such as was desirable. What then could be said, when it was considered that the largest and most elegant rooms were not yet furnished? But furniture must be procured for these apartments before the next session of Congress, and it would certainly require much more money than was proposed to be used upon it. If it was considerered that the whole sum was appropriated every four years, he hoped gentlemen would cease their objections to the ten thousand dollars proposed.

ed remained during the eight years of General WASHINGTON's administration, and he believed no complaints of inadequacy were heard. At the close of his period of office, and before Mr. ADAMS came into office, fourteen thousand dollars more were appropriated, together with the proceeds of the sale of such as was unfashionable or decayed. He did not know that the amount of the sales was ascertained, but it was added in the additional purchase. To this had been added the appropriation of last year to furnish the present house, all of which had not been expended. He always had supposed that the whole of these sums were intended solely for the providing of household furniture. It appeared, however, that this law had received a different construction by the President, than he had heard given to it by any gentleman on the floor; for in the inventory of furniture remaining on hand, which had been supplied to the house, he saw an item of seven horses and a carriage, and even a market wagon, together with harness, &c. This plainly evinced that the House had appropriated fifteen thousand dollars for household furniture-the President had thought himself auMr. MACON believed the sum already appropria-thorized to purchase carriages, horses, and perhaps ted to be adequate to all the style and elegance that officer would require. For his part he could see no more occasion for furnishing a house for the President than for the Heads of Departments. If he chose to live in style, twenty-five thousand dollars a year was quite sufficient to enable him to do it, and if he could not live upon that sum, he could not live upon any. Forty-five thousand dollars had been appropriated for President's furniture, thirty-six thousand or more of which had been expended; but now, in addition to the six

other things which convenience might suggest.

Mr. MACON said, the arguments of the gentleman from Delaware, who had proposed a sum much more to his liking, because it was less, went to prove that fourteen thousand dollars must be appropriated every four years; but upon this principle there would be a great amount of furniture in a few years, by the sums being heaped on each other. Now, for his part, he was not willing to take away anything of the thirty thousand dollars which had been laid out, but he would even add

to it the remaining sum in hand, and surely this must be sufficient, though in his opinion there would be no necessity for it.

Mr. S. SMITH thought gentlemen were completely acquainted with the quantity or the kind of furniture which had been provided for that house. The articles which had been mentioned were certainly improper items in household furniture. He much disapproved of the manner in which the money had been laid out, and believed no gentleman could approve of it, as a compliance with the law. However, he had no idea of going into the subject at this time, lest it should lead him further than he would wish to go.

MARCH, 1801.

Lee, Lewis R. Morris, Robert Page, Thomas Pinckney,
Jonas Platt, Leven Powell, Nathan Reed, John C.
Smith, James Sheafe, George Thatcher, John Chew
Thomas, Lemuel Williams, and Henry Woods.

NAYS-Willis Alston, Theodorus Bailey, John Bird,
Phanuel Bishop, Robert Brown, Samuel J. Cabell,
Christopher G. Champlin, Gabriel Christie, Mathew
Clay, William Charles C. Claiborne, John Davenport,
Thomas T. Davis, John Dawson, William Edmond,
drew Gregg, John A. Hanna, Joseph Heister, David
Joseph Eggleston, John Fowler, Albert Gallatin, An-
Holmes, George Jackson, Levi Lincoln, Matthew Lyon,
James Lynn, Edward Livingston, Nathaniel Macon,
Peter Muhlenberg, Anthony New, John Nicholas, Jo-
seph Nicholson, John Randolph, John Reed, William
Shepard, John Smilie, John Smith, Samuel Smith,
Richard Dobbs Spaight, Richard Stanford, David
Stone, Thomas Sumter, John Stewart, Benjamin Tal-
iaferro, Samuel Tenney, John Thompson, Abram
Trigg, John Trigg, Joseph B. Varnum, and Peleg
Wadsworth.

Mr. HARPER said, the very argument used by the gentleman last up carried the evidence of its own impotence; for, if of this sum much had been expended upon other objects, not household furniture, it proved that there was the more occasion for money to be appropriated for the purpose to which that ought to be applied. He knew of no The said amendments of the Senate were then object to which the gentleman's observations were further amended at the Clerk's table, and, on the applied, otherwise than to evince his disposition to question that the House do agree to the said trample, very unworthily indeed, upon those who amendments as amended, it was resolved in the are already fallen. He hoped, however, that this affirmative-yeas 46, nays 33, as follows: disposition would not excite the gentleman to withhold such measures as were necessary to carry into execution what was already begun.

Mr. SMITH Could not conceive how he had endeavored unworthily to trample upon the fallen. He reflected upon no individual, nor did he know the gentleman's meaning. To such persons as had been engaged in making this very improper selection of furniture, he did, however, refer. He meant to say, that if this money had been laid out upon furniture the house would have had a better appearance than at present, though at present he could see no deficiency.

The question on Mr. HARPER'S motion, for eight thousand dollars, was taken and negatived.

Mr. BAYARD's, for five thousand, shared the same fate. Mr. HARPER moved four thousand, which was carried in the same way; on which Mr. H. withdrew the amendment altogether. The bill was engrossed, and passed its third reading during the day.

MAUSOLEUM TO WASHINGTON.

The House proceeded to consider the amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act to erect a mausoleum for GEORGE WASHINGTON:" Whereupon,

A motion was made and seconded to amend the amendment of the Senate to the first section of the said bill, by striking out, from the tenth line thereof, the word "fifty," for the purpose of inserting, in lieu thereof, the word" one hundred:" And the question being taken thereupon, it passed in the negative-yeas 34, nays 49, as follows: YEAS-George Baer, Bailey Bartlett, James A. Bayard, John Brown, William Craik, Samuel W. Dana, Franklin Davenport, John Dennis, Joseph Dickson, Thomas Evans, Abiel Foster, Henry Glen, Chauncey Goodrich, Roger Griswold, William Barry Grove, Robert Goodloe Harper, Archibald Henderson, William H. Hill, Benjamin Huger, John Wilkes Kittera, Henry

YEAS-Theodorus Bailey, Bailey Bartlett, John Bird, Phanuel Bishop, Robert Brown, Samuel J. Cabell, Matthew Clay, William C. C. Claiborne, Samuel W. Dana, John Davenport, John Dawson, Joseph Eggleston, John Fowler, Albert Gallatin, Chauncey Goodrich, Andrew Gregg, William Barry Grove, John A. Hanna, Joseph Heister, David Holmes, John Wilkes Kittera, Michael Leib, Levi Lincoln, Matthew Lyon, James Lynn, Edward Livingston, Nathaniel Macon, Peter Muhlenberg, Anthony New, John Nicholas, John Reed, Nathan Read, William Shepard, John Smilie, John Smith, Samuel Smith, Richard Dobbs Spaight, David Stone, Benjamin Taliaferro, Samuel Tenney, John Trigg, Joseph B. Varnum, and Peleg WadsJohn Chew Thomas, John Thompson, Abram Trigg,

worth.

G. Champlin, Gabriel Christie, William Craik, FrankNAYS-James A. Bayard, John Brown, Christopher lin Davenport, John Dennis, Joseph Dickson, William Edmond, Thomas Evans, Abiel Foster, Henry Glen, Roger Griswold, Robert Goodloe Harper, Archibald Henderson, Benjamin Huger, James H. Imlay, George Jackson, Henry Lee, Silas Lee, Ebenezer Mattoon, Robert Page, Thomas Pinckney, Jonas Platt, John Randolph, John C. Smith, Richard Stanford, Thomas Sumter, James Sheafe, John Stewart, George Thatcher, Lemuel Williams, and Henry Woods.

TUESDAY, March 3.

An engrossed bill further to amend the act, entitled "An act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States," was read the third time, and passed.

An engrossed bill for erecting light-houses on New Point Comfort, and on Smith's Point, in the State of Virginia, and on Faulkner's Island, in Long Island Sound, in the State of Connecticut, and for placing buoys in Narraganset Bay," was read the third time, and passed.

Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be, "An act for erecting light-houses on

Sergeant-at-Arms, &c.—Winthrop Sargent.

On motion, Resolved, That the Clerk of this House be authorized and directed to pay, out of the moneys appropriated to defray the contingent expenses of the House to the principal and engrossing clerks in the office of the Clerk of the House, respectively, two hundred dollars each, for Ordered, That the Committee of the whole their extra services during the present session. House, to whom was committed, on the nineteenth A message from the Senate informed the House ultimo, the report of the committee appointed to that the Senate have passed a bill, entitled "An inquire into the official conduct of Winthrop Saract to prohibit the Secretary of the Navy from gent, Governor of the Mississippi Territory, be being concerned in trade, or commerce, or navi-discharged from the further consideration thereof. gation;" to which they desire the concurrence of this House.

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Secretary of the Navy.

MARCH, 1801.

NAYS-Willis Alston, Theodorus Bailey, Phanuel that the Senate have passed the bill, entitled "An Bishop, Robert Brown, Samuel J. Cabell, Gabriel Chris-act fixing the compensation of Receivers of Pubtie, Matthew Clay, William C. C. Claiborne, Thomas lic Moneys for lands of the United States, and reT. Davis, John Dawson, George Dent, Joseph Eggles-gulating the mode of calculating discounts in case ton, John Fowler, Albert Gallatin, Andrew Gregg, of prompt payment for the said lands," with John A. Hanna, Joseph Heister, David Holmes, Mi-amendments; to which they desire the concurchael Leib, Levi Lincoln, Matthew Lyon, James Lynn, rence of this House. Edward Livingston, Nathaniel Macon, Peter Muhlenberg, Anthony New, John Nicholas, Joseph H. Nicholson, John Randolph, John Smilie, John Smith, Samuel Smith, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Richard Stanford, David Stone, Thomas Sumter, John Stewart, Benjamin Taliaferro, Abram Trigg, and John Trigg.

And, an adjournment being called for, the House adjourned until six o'clock, P. M.

6 O'CLOCK, P. M.

A message from the Senate, informed the House that the Senate have passed the bill entitled "An act for altering the times and places of holding certain courts therein mentioned, and for other purposes," with an amendment; to which they desire the concurrence of this House; also, the bill, entitled "An an act providing for a Naval Peace Establishment, and for other purposes," with an amendment; to which they desire the concurrence of this House; and, also, the bill, entitled "An act supplementary to the act, entitled 'An act concerning the District of Columbia," with amendments; to which they desire the concurrence of this House.

The House proceeded to consider the amendment proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act for altering the times and places of holding certain courts therein mentioned, and for other purposes:" Whereupon,

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

The House proceeded to consider the amendments proposed by the Senate to the last mentioned bill: Whereupon,

said amendments, except the amendment for strikResolved, That this House doth agree to the ing out the second section, to which this House doth disagree.

On motion, it was Resolved, That there be allowed to the Clerk of this House, to compensate for his extraordinary expenses during the present session of Congress, the sum of three hundred dollars, to be paid to him out of the moneys appropriated for defraying the contingent expenses of the House.

On motion, it was Resolved, That the Clerk of this House do pay to the Chaplain of this House the sum of one hundred dollars, out of the moneys appropriated for the contingent expenses of the House, in addition to the compension allowed him by law.

SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.

The bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act to prohibit the Secretary of the Navy from being concerned in trade, or commerce, or navigation,” was read the third time.

Mr. S. SMITH said the evident tendency of the bill was to prevent the Executive selecting mercantile men to fill these offices. [Mr. LIVINGSTON had moved to add the Secretaries of State and of War.] He wished to know what occurrence had trans

The House proceeded to consider the amend-pired to make such a prohibition necessary? None ments proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act supplementary to the act, entitled 'An act concerning the District of Columbia :" Whereupon,

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

The House proceeded to consider the amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act supplementary to the act, entitled 'An act concerning the District of Columbia :" Whereupon,

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

had been mentioned, none he believed had existed. In the particular instance of prohibiting the Secretary of the Treasury from engaging in trade, &c., there was more reason, from his having in his possession much public money, and because it would be exceedingly improper to open the means for him to trade or speculate with it; but there could not be the same occasion for prohibiting the other officers. If the prohibition were now to take place, it would be supposed by the world, that the gentlemen who had filled these offices had actually traded with the money which passed through their hands belonging to the public. One of the gentlemen, who was Secretary at War, was at the time he was chosen to office, a commercial man; but was it ever said, or even thought, that he acted dishonestly, or used public money to promote his private interest? He believed not. He thought there was no doubt of his integrity. Why, then, should the House prevent the President of A motion was then made and seconded that the the United States from choosing men for office further consideration of the said bill and amend-out of what class of citizens his judgment might ment be postponed until the next session of Congress.

A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate insist on their amendment, disagreed to by this House, to the bill, entitled "An act fixing the compensation of Receivers of Public Moneys for lands of the United States, and regulating the mode of calculating discounts in case of prompt payment for the said lands."

And, the question being taken thereupon, it was resolved in the affirmative.

A message from the Senate informed the House

suggest? What, he would ask, had commercial men done to merit this pecular mark of the distrust of the gentleman from New York? He wished gentlemen to look at the revenue laws and the duties. Were they not paid by commercial