Speech to both Houses of Congress, on Monday next at 12 o'clock. Whereupon, the Senate waited on the President of the United States at his own house, and the VICE PRESIDENT, in their name, communicated to him the Address agreed to on the 28th instant, to which the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES was pleased to make the following reply: GENTLEMEN: This manifestation of your zeal for the honor and the happiness of our country derives its full value from the share which your deliberations have already had in promoting both. I thank you for the favorable sentiments with which you view the part I have borne in the arduous trust committed to the Government of the United States; and desire you to be assured that all my zeal will continue to second those further efforts for the public good which are ensured by the spirit in which you are entering on the present session. G. WASHINGTON. [SENATE. to us in the name of the nation, and according to which France will be henceforth governed. We do not doubt that you take an interest in an event so important to our kingdom, and to us; and that it is with real pleasure we take this occasion to renew to you assurances of the sincere friendship we bear you. Whereupon, we pray God to have you, very dear, great friends and allies, in his just and holy keeping. Written at Paris, the 19th of September, 1791. Your good friend and ally, LOUIS. MONTMORIN. The UNITED STATES OF NORTH AMERICA. TUESDAY, March 13. The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion made yesterday on the Message from the President of the United States, transmitting a copy of a letter from his Most Christian Majesty to the United States of America. A motion was made and seconded to postpone this motion, in order to take up the following: "Resolved, That the President of the United States be informed that the Senate have received with satisfaction the official intelligence that the King of the French has accepted the constitution presented to him by the National Assembly, and are highly gratified by every event that promotes the freedom and prosperity of the French nation and the happiness and OLIVER ELLSWORTH, from the State of Con- glory of their King." necticut, attended, and took his seat. THURSDAY, November 10. It passed in the negative; yeas 6, nays 21— as follows: YEAS.-Messrs. Bassett, Cabot, Ellsworth, King, JAMES GUNN, from the State of Georgia, at- Strong, and Wingate. tended, and took his seat. FRIDAY, January 6. CHARLES CARROLL, from the State of Maryland, attended, and took his seat. MONDAY, January 9. NAYS.-Messrs. Bradley, Burr, Butler, Carroll, Dickinson, Few, Foster, Gunn, Hawkins, Henry, Johnston, Izard, Langdon, Lee, Monroe, Morris, Read, Robinson, Rutherford, Stanton, and Sherman. The original motion, being amended, was agreed to. Whereupon, it was Resolved, That the President be requested to make known to the King of the French, that RICHARD BASSETT, from the State of Dela- the Senate of the United States have received ware, attended, and took his seat. MONDAY, March 5. with the highest satisfaction the official communication of his acceptance of the constitution which, it is their earnest wish, may establish, The following Message was received from the on a solid basis, the freedom and prosperity of President of the United States: the French nation, and the happiness and glory of the Monarch presiding over it. WEDNESDAY, March 14. Ordered, That the resolution of the Senate, on the Message of the President of the United States, enclosing the letter from his Most Christian Majesty, be signed by the Vice President, and laid before the President of the United States, by the Secretary. MONDAY, March 26. A motion was made by Mr. MONROE, seconded by Mr. LEE, as follows: "Resolved, That it be a standing rule, that SENATE.] Adjournment. [MAY, 1792. the doors of the Senate Chamber remain open | President of the United States, and lay before whilst the Senate shall be sitting in their Legis-him an attested copy of this proceeding, and lative capacity, except on such occasions as in that he notify the House of Representatives of their judgment may require secrecy; and that the election of a President pro tempore. this rule shall commence and be in force on the first day of the next session of Congress ;" and it passed in the negative-yeas 8, nays 17, as follows: YEAS.-Messrs. Butler, Carroll, Foster, Hawkins, Johnston, King, Lee, and Monroe. NAYS.-Messrs. Bassett, Bradley, Cabot, Dickinson, Ellsworth, Few, Gunn, Henry, Izard, Langdon, Read, Robinson, Rutherford, Sherman, Stanton, Strong, and Wingate. WEDNESDAY, April 18. The VICE PRESIDENT being absent, the Senate proceeded to the election of a President pro tempore as the constitution provides, and the Hon. RICHARD HENRY LEE was duly elected. Ordered, That the Secretary wait on the THURSDAY, April 19. Resolved, That the President pro tempore of the Senate, as a member, retain his right to vote upon all questions. TUESDAY EVENING, May 8. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House of Representatives, having completed the business before them, are about to adjourn. In conformity to the resolution of the 4th instant, the President pro tempore adjourned the Senate to the first Monday in November next, being the time appointed by law for the next annual meeting of Congress. MONDAY, October 24, 1791. This being the day appointed by law for the meeting of the present Congress, the following members appeared, produced their credentials, and took their seats: From New Hampshire, NICHOLAS GILMAN, SAMUEL LIVERMORE, and JEREMIAH SMITH. From Massachusetts, FISHER AMES, SHEARJASHUB BOURNE, ELBRIDGE GERRY, BENJAMIN GOODHUE, GEORGE THATCHER, and ARTEMAS WARD. From Rhode Island, BENJAMIN BOURNE. From Connecticut, JAMES HILLHOUSE, JONATHAN STURGES, JONATHAN TRUMBULL, JEREMIAH WADSWORTH, and AMASA LEARNED. From New York, JAMES GORDON, JOHN LAURANCE, PETER SYLVESTER, and THOMAS TRED WELL. From New Jersey, ELIAS BOUDINOT. From Pennsylvania, THOMAS FITZSIMONS, DANIEL HEISTER, and FREDERICK AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG. From Delaware, JOHN VINING. From Maryland, JOSHUA SENEY, and SAMUEL STERRETT. From Virginia, JOHN BROWN, WILLIAM B. GILES, SAMUEL GRIFFIN, JAMES MADISON, ANDREW MOORE, and ALEXANDER WHITE. From North Carolina, JOHN STEELE, and HUGH WILLIAMSON. From South Carolina, DANIEL HUGER, WILLIAM SMITH, and THOMAS TUDOR TUCKER. From Georgia, FRANCIS WILLIS. A quorum of the members being present, the House proceeded to ballot for Speaker, when it appeared that JONATHAN TRUMBULL, from Connecticut, was elected. On being conducted to the chair, Mr. TRUMBULL addressed the House as follows: GENTLEMEN: I find myself unable to express to you the full sense I have of the distinguished honor you have done me in the choice of your Speaker. The diffidence I feel in my abilities to discharge, with propriety, the duties of the chair, is almost insuperable in my own mind. But, encouraged by the known candor of this honorable body, and depending, as I think I may confidently do, on the kind assistance of each individual in it, I shall enter on its duties, with full assurances to you, gentlemen, that I shall endeavor to conduct myself with that impartiality, integrity, and assiduity, which become the conspicuous station in which you have been pleased to place me. The House then proceeded to ballot for a Clerk, when there appeared a unanimous vote for JOHN BECKLEY. The oath to support the constitution was then administered to the members present, and the oath of office to the Speaker and Clerk. Ordered, That the Speaker appoint committees until the House shall otherwise determine. A message was received from the Senate, informing the House that a quorum of that body is assembled and ready to proceed to business; and that the Senate have informed the President of the United States that they are ready to receive any communications he may be pleased to make to them. Resolved, That Mr. SMITH, of South Carolina, Mr. LAURANCE, and Mr. WHITE, be a committee on the part of this House, to act jointly with the committee from the Senate, to wait on the President. Ordered, That a committee be appointed to prepare and report Standing Rules and Orders of proceeding for the House. Messrs. MUHLENBERG, TUCKER, WILLIAMSON, AMES, and SMITH, of New Hampshire, were named. JOSEPH WHEATON was appointed Sergeant-atArms; and GIFFORD DALLEY, Doorkeeper, and THOMAS CLAXTON, assistant Doorkeeper. Resolved, That two Chaplains, of different denominations, be appointed to Congress for the present session, to interchange weekly. Mr. SMITH, from the joint committee appointed to wait on the President of the United States, reported that the President would make a communication to both Houses to-morrow at twelve o'clock, in the Senate Chamber. A message from the Senate announced the agreement of that body to the resolution of this H. OF R.] Address to the President. [OCTOBER, 1791. House for the appointment of two Chaplains, | trusts reposed in him; but also agreed that it and had elected the Right Reverend Bishop was improper, indeed, it was no compliment WHITE, on their part. paid to the President, to approve, before a formal examination. TUESDAY, October 25. The following members appeared, presented their credentials, and took their seats: ABRAHAM CLARK, JONATHAN DAYTON, and AARON KITCHELL, from New Jersey; and ISRAEL JACOBS, from Pennsylvania. The House proceeded to ballot for a Chaplain, when a majority of the votes were found in favor of the Rev. Mr. BLAIR. In answer to these objections it was observed, that so far as circumstances had been made known to the members, relative to the steps taken by the President during the recess of the Federal Legislature, so far they claimed the approbation of the House; and that the opinion of the House was only meant to be given as far as they were informed. It was urged, that the answer of the House should be a candid expression of their feelings; feelings which the prosA message being received from the Senate, perous situation of the country undoubtedly stating that they were ready to receive the called forth, and which the issue of the meascommunication from the President of the Unit-ures adopted could not fail to excite. ed States, the Speaker, attended by the members of the House, withdrew to the Senate Chamber for the purpose of receiving the same. On the return of the members, the Speaker laid before the House a copy of the Speech delivered by the President, (which will be found in the proceedings of the Senate.) The Speech was committed to a Committee of the Whole to-morrow. WEDNESDAY, October 26. President's Speech. The House then went into Committee of the Whole, on the President's Speech, Mr. MUHLENBERG in the chair. The Speech being read, Mr. VINING moved a resolution, of which the following is the purport: Several modifications were proposed to the resolution, which was finally agreed to, as follows: tee that a respectful Address ought to be presented "Resolved, That it is the opinion of this commitby the House of Representatives to the President of the United States, in answer to his Speech to both Houses of Congress at the commencement of this session, containing assurances that this House will take into consideration the various and important matters recommended to their attention." Mr. MADISON, Mr. LAURANCE, and Mr. SMITH, (of South Carolina,) were appointed a committee to prepare an Address, pursuant to the resolution. THURSDAY, October 27. United States, in answer to his Speech to both Houses of Congress; which was read, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the whole House immediately. Mr. MADISON, from the committee appointed, "Resolved, That it is the opinion of this commit-reported an Address to the President of the tee that an Address should be presented to the President of the United States by the House of Representatives, in answer to his Speech, to congratulate him on the prosperous situation of the United States, expressive of the approbation of the House of the wise and prudent measures he has pursued during their recess, in the execution of the duties committed to his charge promising speedy attention to the important and momentous objects recommended to their consideration, and expressing their approbation of the humane and effectual steps taken, under his direction, for the defence of the Western frontiers." Address to the President. The House accordingly resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House on the said Address; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. MUHLENBERG reported that the committee had had the said Address under consideration, and made no amendment thereto. Whereupon, it was Resolved, unanimously, That this House doth agree to the said Address, in the words following: This resolution was objected to by Messrs. LAURANCE, SEDGWICK, SMITH, (of South Carolina,) and LIVERMORE, upon the principle, that it expressed the sense of the House upon points which required further information and investigation before the House could, with propriety, SIR: In receiving your Address, at the opening of determine. It was difficult to say, before prop- the present session, the House of Representatives er documents were laid before the House, have taken an ample share in the feelings inspired by whether the measures adopted for the defence the actual prosperity and flattering prospects of our of the Western frontiers were the most prudent country; and whilst, with becoming gratitude to that could be adopted. It was impossible posi- from which it flows, we behold with an animating Heaven, we ascribe this happiness to the true source tively to assert, that the President, in the exe-pleasure the degree in which the Constitution and cution of the duties assigned him in carrying laws of the United States have been instrumental in into effect the excise act, had done all for the dispensing it. best. Every member that spoke agreed in expressing his individual opinion, that no doubt the President had acted with his wonted prudence and wisdom in the execution of the It yields us particular satisfaction to learn the success with which the different important measures of the Government have proceeded; as well those specially provided for the last session, as those of pre ceding date. The safety of our Western frontier, in which the lives and repose of so many of our fellowcitizens are involved, being peculiarly interesting, your communications on that subject are proportionally grateful to us. The gallantry and good conduct of the militia, whose services were called for, is an honorable confirmation of the efficacy of that precious resource of a free State. And we anxiously wish that the consequences of their successful enterprises, and of the other proceedings to which you have referred, may leave the United States free to pursue the most benevolent policy towards the unhappy and deluded race of people in our neighborhood. The amount of the population of the United States, determined by the returns of the census, is a source of the most pleasing reflections, whether it be viewed in relation to our national safety and respectability, or as a proof of that felicity in the situation of our country, which favors so unexampled a rapidity in its growth. Nor ought any to be insensible to the additional motive suggested by this important fact to perpetuate the free Government established with a wise administration of it, to a portion of the earth which promises such an increase of the number which is to enjoy those blessings within the limits of the United States. MONDAY, October 31. [H. OF R. Several other members, to wit: from Vermont, NATHANIEL NILES and ISRAEL SMITH; from Maryland, UPTON SHERIDINE; from North Carolina, WILLIAM BARRY GROVE; and from South Carolina, ROBERT BARNWELL; appeared, produced their credentials, and took their seats in the House. TUESDAY, November 1. ANTHONY WAYNE, member from Georgia, and JOSIAH PARKER, from Virginia, took their seats this day. THURSDAY, November 3. Two other members, to wit, RICHARD BLAND LEE and JOHN PAGE, from Virginia, appeared, produced their credentials, and took their seats in the House. FRIDAY, November 4. Another member, to wit, EGBERT BENSON, from New York, appeared, produced his credentials, and took his seat in the House. MONDAY, November 7. We shall proceed with all the respect due to your patriotic recommendations, and with a deep sense of the trust committed to us by our fellow-citizens, to take into consideration the various and important matters falling within the present session; and, in Several other members, to wit: from Penndiscussing and deciding each, we shall feel every dis-sylvania, WILLIAM FINDLAY; from North Caroposition, whilst we are pursuing the public welfare, which must be the supreme object with all our constituents, to accommodate, as far as possible, the means of attaining it to the sentiments and wishes of every part of them. Mr. MADISON, from the committee appointed to wait on the President of the United States, to know when and where it will be convenient for him to receive the Address of this House, in answer to his Speech to both Houses of Congress, reported that the committee had waited on the President, who signified to them that it would be convenient to him to receive the said Address at twelve o'clock to-morrow, at his own house. lina, JOHN BAPTIST ASHE; and from Georgia, ABRAHAM BALDWIN; appeared, produced their credentials, and took their seats in the House. TUESDAY, November 8. from Pennsylvania, appeared, produced his creAnother member, to wit, ANDREW GREGG, dentials, and took his seat in the House. John Torrey. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House on the Report of the Secretary of War on the petition of John Torrey, administrator of Major Joseph Torrey, deceased. Mr. AMES objected to the motion for accepting the Report of the Secretary of War. He said, it must be apparent that he was placed by accident in a relation to the subject in debate, which he should not have adopted of choice. With very little knowledge of the parties and their connections, and the interests that would be involved by the decision, he seemed to be considered as standing sponsor for the petitioner. He might justify this active support of the petition, by assigning motives which were common to other gentlemen; but as they have continued silent, I will assign a reason for speaking, which is peculiar to myself. Nothing excites a person to a more fervid defence of his opinions, than the supposed discovery that they are misunderstood, and the force of the reasons on which he had formed them unduly estimated. Congress promised half-pay to the officers who should continue in service to the end of the war. This was afterwards made a commutation for half-pay. Major Torrey continued in ser |