SENATE.

MAY, 1800.

Mr. DEXTER, from the committee on the bill to admit, in certain cases, slaves into the Mississippi Territory, reported it without amendment.

Mr. BINGHAM, from the committee on the bill to lay additional duties on certain imported articles, reported the bill without amendment; and it was agreed that it pass to the third reading.

Mr. GUNN, from the committee on the bill to defray the expense of holding treaties with Indians, reported an amendment.

The bill for establishing trading houses with the Indians was read the second time, and committed to Messrs. Ross, LIVERMORE, and ANDERSON, to report thereon.

Resolved, That the resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives, of the 21st day of April last, authorizing the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to adjourn their respective Houses, on Monday the 12th of May instant, be repealed, and that the said President and Speaker do adjourn their respective Houses on Wednesday the 14th instant.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the resolution of the House of Representatives on the amendments of the Senate to their amendment to the bill prescribing the mode of deciding disputed elections of President and Vice President of the United States; and, on motion to recede from the amendments to the amendment, it passed in the negative-yeas 11, nays 16, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Anderson, Baldwin, Bloodworth, Brown, Cocke, Foster, Franklin, Marshall, Mason, Nicholas, and Pinckney.

NAYS-Messrs. Bingham, Dayton, Dexter, Greene, Gunn, Hillhouse, Howard, Latimer, Laurance, Livermore, Morris, Read, Ross, Schureman, Tracy, and Wells.

Resolved, That the Senate adhere to their said amendments.

The Senate took into consideration the amendment of the House of Representatives to the bill supplementary to the act establishing the Mint, and disagreed thereto.

The bill, entitled "An act directing the payment of a detachment of the militia under the command of Major Thomas Johnson, in the year 1794," was read the third time and passed with an amendment.

Mr. NICHOLAS, from the committee to whom was referred the bill to authorize certain expenditures, and to make certain appropriations for the year 1800, reported an amendment. He also reported from the committee the bill to make provision relative to rations for Indians, without amendment.

Mr. BINGHAM presented the remonstrance and petition of a number of "citizens of the Republic of America, resident in the city and county of Philadelphia," praying the Senate "to reconsider the resolutions by them adopted on the subject of privilege, in the case of William Duane ;" which were read.

The Senate resumed the second reading of the bill to provide for the sale of lands between the Great and Little Miami rivers.

Resolved, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until the next session of Congress. Mr. BINGHAM, from the committee to whom was referred the bill to retain a further sum on drawbacks, and in lieu of stamp duties on debentures, reported amendments, which were disagreed to, and the bill passed to a third reading.

On motion, that all questions respecting the election of President and Vice President of the United States ought to be decided by the House of Representatives, the votes being taken by States, and each State having one vote; it was agreed that the motion lie for consideration.

The Senate considered the amendments reported on the bill to promote the manufacture of sheet Copper within the United States; and on the question to agree to the third reading of the bill, it passed in the negative; so the bill was lost.

MONDAY, May 12.

The Senate agreed to the proposed conference on the amendment to the amendments to the bill to enlarge the powers of the surveyors of the revenue; and appointed Messrs. LIVERMORE and LAURANCE managers on their part.

Mr. MARSHALL, from the committee on the bill making provision for the children of Colonel John Hardin and Major Alexander Trueman, reported an amendment.

The Senate took into consideration the resolu

tion of the House of Representatives desiring a conference on the amendments to the bill respecting the Mint, and agreed thereto, and that Messrs. HILLHOUSE and BINGHAM be managers on the part of the Senate.

The bill entitled "An act laying additional duties on certain articles imported," was read the third time and passed.

The bill, entitled "An act to retain a further sum on drawbacks, for expenses incident to the allowance and payment thereof, and in lieu of stamp duties on debentures," was read the third time and passed.

Mr. LIVERMORE, from the managers at the conference on the bill last mentioned, made report. Whereupon,

Resolved, That the Senate agree to the modifications of the amendments, agreeably to the report of the managers.

The bill regulating grants of land appropriated for the refugees from the provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia, was read the second time, and referred to Messrs. Ross, BROWN, and MARSHALL, to report thereon.

The bill for erecting a mausoleum for GEORGE WASHINGTON was read the second time, and the further consideration thereof postponed until the next session of Congress.

The Senate considered the amendment reported by the committee on the bill to appropriate a certain sum of money to defray the expense of treaties with the Indians, agreed thereto, and the bill then passed to the third reading as amended.

The Senate considered the amendment reported by the committee on the bill making certain ap propriations for the year 1800; which was agreed to, and the bill passed to the third reading as amended.

The Senate resumed the second reading of the bill to make provision relative to rations for Indians; and agreed that it pass to the third reading.

TUESDAY, May 13.

SENATE.

The bill making provision for persons imprisoned for debts due the United States was read the second time, and postponed to the next session of Congress.

The bill entitled "An act appropriating a certain sum of money to defray the expense of holding a treaty or treaties with the Indians," was read the third time and passed with an amendment.

The bill entitled "An act to authorize certain for the year 1800," was read the third time and expenditures, and to make certain appropriations passed with an amendment.

lative to rations for Indians, and for their visits to The bill entitled "An act making provision rethe seat of Government," was read the third time and passed.

The bill entitled "An act making further provision for the children of Colonel John Harding and Major Alexander Trueman, deceased," was read the third time and passed.

the conference on the amendment to the bill to esMr. HILLHOUSE reported from the managers at tablish the Mint: Whereupon,

said amendment. Resolved, That the Senate do insist on their

The second reading of the bill to permit the introduction of slaves, in certain cases, into the Mississippi Territory, was resumed; and it was agreed that it pass to the third reading.

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that they adhere to their amendments to the bill to establish the Mint.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the

motion made the 10th of May, instant, respecting the election of President and Vice President of the United States; and, after debate, the further consideration thereof was postponed until the next session of Congress.

Mr. ANDERSON, from the committee to whom was referred the resolution repealing certain laws passed by the Governor and Judges of the Mississippi Territory, reported an amendment, which was disagreed to, and the resolution postponed to the next session of Congress.

of Representatives, adhering to their amendment to the bill supplementary to the act establishing the Mint. Whereupon,

The Senate considered the resolution of the House

Resolved, That they do recede from their disagreement, and agree to the amendment of the House of Representatives.

ize the proper officer to settle the claim of John Pitchlyn.

The Senate considered the amendments reported to the bill making further provision for the children of Colonel John Harding and Major Alexander Trueman, deceased; and, having amended the report, it was adopted, and the bill passed to the third reading as amended.

And, on motion, the Senate adjourned.

United States, reported amendments thereto; which were read.

Ordered, That the committee be revived, and that the bill be recommitted for further consideration.

Mr. TRACY, from the committee, reported further amendment to the bill supplementary to the act for augmenting the Army; and the reported amendment to the amendment was adopted.

WEDNESDAY, May 14. The VICE PRESIDENT having, by letter, intimated his desire to be excused from further attendance, as it would probably be the last day of the session, the Senate proceeded to the choice of a President pro tempore, as the Constitution provides, and URIAH TRACY was duly elected.

Mr. Ross, from the committee on the bill, entitled "An act regulating the grants of land appropriated for the refugees from the British provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia, reported an amendment, which was adopted; and it was agreed, by unanimous consent, that the bill be now read the third time, and passed.

The bill entitled "An act to permit, in certain cases, the bringing of slaves into the Mississippi Territory," was read the third time. On the question to agree to the final passage thereof, it passed in the negative-yeas 5, nays 14, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Anderson, Cocke, Marshall, Pinckney, and Read.

NAYS-Messrs. Baldwin, Bingham, Bloodworth, Brown, Dayton, Foster, Franklin, Greene, Hillhouse, Laurance, Livermore, Mason, Morris, and Ross.

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House disagree to the amendment of the Senate to the bill regulating the grants of land for the refugees from the British provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia.

The Senate considered the resolution of the House of Representatives on the amendment of the Senate to the bill last mentioned.

Resolved, That they adhere to their amendment. Mr. Ross, from the committee on the bill making grants of lands to the inhabitants of Vincennes, and Illinois country, reported the bill without amendment; and it was agreed to postpone the bill to the next session of Congress.

Ordered, That the committee to whom was referred the bill to establish trading-houses with the Indians, be discharged; and that the bill be postponed to the next session of Congress.

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that they have appointed a committee on their part, with such as the Senate may join, to wait on the President of the United States and notify him that, unless he hath any further communications to make to the two Houses of Congress, they are ready to adjourn; and they desire the appointment of a committee on the part of the Senate.

Mr. BINGHAM presented an additional remonstrance and petition of a number of "citizens of the Republic of America, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia," praying the Senate to reconsider the resolutions by them adopted on the subject of privilege, in the case of William Duane."

MAY, 1800.

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate be, and he is hereby, authorized to pay to James Mathers, acting as Sergeant-at-Arms to the Senate, out of the contingent fund, the sum of one hundred dollars, for extra services during the session.

The Senate agreed to the resolution of the House of Representatives appointing a committee, jointly with such as the Senate may appoint, to wait on the President of the United States, and notify him of the proposed adjournment of the two Houses of Congress; and it was ordered that Messrs. BINGHAM and WELLS be the committee on the part of the Senate.

Mr. BINGHAM reported, from the joint committee last mentioned, that the President of the United States had no further communication to make to Congress at this time than his best wishes for their safe return to their respective places of abode. On motion that it be

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to instruct the proper law officer to commence and carry on a prosecution against William Duane, editor of the newspaper called the Aurora, for certain false,defamatory, scandalous, and malicious publications, in the said newspaper, on the 19th of February last past, tending to defame the Senate of the United States, and to bring them into contempt and disrepute, and to excite against them the hatred of the good people of the

United States:

It passed in the affirmative-yeas 13, nays 4, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Bingham, Dayton, Foster, Greene, Gunn, Latimer, Laurance, Livermore, Morris, Read, Ross, Tracy, and Wells.

NAYS-Messrs. Bloodworth, Brown, Cocke, Franklin. Ordered, That the Secretary lay an attested copy of the foregoing resolution before the President of the United States.

Resolved, That the thanks of the Senate of the United States be presented to the Commissioners of the City and County of Philadelphia, for the convenient and elegant accommodations furnished by them for the use of the Senate, during the residence of the National Government in the city; and that the President of the Senate be requested to convey this resolution in a letter to the said Commissioners.

The PRESIDENT, agreeably to the joint resolution of the 12th instant, adjourned the Senate, to meet again on the third Monday of November next, as the law provides.

MONDAY, December 2, 1799.

This being the Constitutional day for the annual meeting of Congress, the following members of the House of Representatives appeared, produced their credentials, and took their seats, viz:

From New Hampshire-ABIEL FOSTER, JONATHAN FREEMAN, and WILLIAM GORDON.

From Massachusetts-BAILEY BARTLETT, PHANUEL BISHOP, DWIGHT FOSTER, HARRISON G. OTIS, SILAS LEE, SAMUEL LYMAN, JOHN REED, SAMUEL SEWALL, THEODORE SEDGWICK, WILLIAM SHEPARD, GEORGE THATCHER, JOSEPH B. VARNUM, PELEG WADSWORTH, and LEMUEL WILLIAMS.

From Connecticut-JONATHAN BRACE, SAMUEL W. DANA, JOHN DAVENPORT, WILLIAM EDMOND, CHAUNCEY GOODRICH, ELIZUR GOODRICH, and ROGER GRISWOLD.

From Rhode Island-JOHN BROWN, and CHRISTOPHER G. CHAMPLIN.

From Vermont-MATTHEW LYON, and LEWIS R. MORRIS.

HARPER, ABRAHAM NOTT, JOHN RUTLEDGE, Jr., and THOMAS SUMTER.

From Georgia-JAMES JONES, BENJAMIN TALIAFERRO.

From Tennessee-WILLIAM CHARLES COLE CLAIBORNE

A quorum of the whole number of members being present, the House proceeded to the election of a SPEAKER; when, on counting the ballots, the tellers reported that Mr. SEDGWICK had 42 votes; Mr. MACON, 27; Mr. DENT, 13; Mr. RUTLEDGE, 2; Mr. SUMTER, 1.

That the whole number of votes were 85, and the rules of the House requiring a majority of the members present to constitute a choice, neither of the above gentlemen were elected.

The House then proceeded to a second trial; when Mr. SEDGWICK had 44 votes; Mr. MACON, 38; Mr. DENT, 3; Mr. RUTLEDge, 1.

Whereupon Mr. SEDGWICK was declared duly elected, and conducted to the Chair accordingly. Mr. SEDGWICK, upon taking the Chair, addressed the House in the following words:

LAND.

"GENTLEMEN: Although I am conscious of a deficien

fulness and dignity the important duties of the high station to which I am raised, by the generous regard of the enlightened and virtuous representatives of my country, yet, reposing myself on the energy of their candid support, I will not shrink from the attempt.

"Accept, I pray you, gentlemen, my grateful acknowledgment of the honor you are pleased to confer; and, with it, an assurance, that no consideration shall seduce me to deviate, in the least degree, from a direct line of impartial integrity."

A message was received from the Senate, informing the House that a sufficient number of members appearing to form a quorum, they had proceeded to the choice of a President pro tempore, when Hon. SAMUEL LIVERMORE was elected.

The House proceeded to the choice of a Clerk; when it appeared Jonathan W. Condy had 47 votes, John Beckley, 39.

Whereupon Mr. CONDY was declared by the SPEAKER to be duly elected.

Ordered That a message be sent to the Senate, to inform that body of the election of the Hon. THEODORE SEDGWICK, as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

H. OF R.

DECEMBER, 1799.

The oath to support the Constitution of the United States, as prescribed by the act, entitled "An act to regulate the time and manner of administering certain oaths," was administered by Mr. RUTLEDGE, one of the Representatives for the State of South Carolina, to the SPEAKER, and then the same oath or affirmation was administered by Mr. SPEAKER to each of the members present.

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON having also appeared, as a Representative for the Territory of the United States Northwest of the River Ohio, the said oath was administered to him by Mr. SPEAKER.

The same affirmation, together with the affirmation of office prescribed by the said recited act, were also administered by Mr. SPEAKER to the

Clerk.

A message was received from the Senate, informing the House, that they had passed a resolution, appointing a joint committee to wait on the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, and inform him that Congress had met and were ready to receive any communications he might think proper to make; and, in case of concurrence, that Messrs. READ and BINGHAM were appointed a committee on behalf of the Senate.

The House concurred in the resolution, and Messrs. MARSHALL, RUTLEDGE, and SEWALL, were appointed to wait on the PRESIDENT, in conjunction with the committee from the Senate. The following letter was read by the SPEAKER: 72 WELBECK-STREET, LONDON,

September 20, 1798. SIR: I beg leave, through you, to offer to the House of Representatives of the United States, impressions of the two prints of the American Revolution, which I have lately caused to be published.*

The importance of the events, and the illustrious characters of the two great men to whose memory they are particularly devoted, give to these works their best claim to your notice; and the patriotism of my countrymen, I trust, will give them a kinder reception than their intrinsic merit might entitle me to hope.

With great respect, I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

JNO. TRUMBULL.

The SPEAKER of the House of Reps. U. S.

Resolved, That the rules and orders of proceeding established by the late House of Representatives, shall be deemed and taken to be the rules and orders of proceeding to be observed in this House, until a revision or alteration of the same shall take place.

Resolved, That each member be furnished with three newspapers, printed in this city, during the session, at the expense of this House."

*The prints referred to by Mr. Trumbull, in his letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, are, first, a representation of the Battle of Quebec, and death of General Montgomery; second, the Battle of Bunker's Hill-both elegant engravings. They are

placed on the right and left of the Speaker's chair, and are highly rnamental to the Representatives' Chamber.

vice; and that the PRESIDENT had appointed tomorrow forenoon, 12 o'clock, to meet both Houses in the Representatives' Chamber.

The House then adjourned, till to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock.

TUESDAY, December 3.

JAMES A. BAYARD, from Delaware, appeared produced his credentials, was qualified, and took his seat in the House.

PRESIDENT'S SPEECH.

Ordered, That a message be sent to the Senate to inform them that this House is now ready to attend them in receiving the communication from the President of the United States, agreeably to his notification to both Houses yesterday.

The Senate attended and took seats in the

House; when, both Houses being assembled, the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES came into the Representatives' Chamber, and addressed them as follows:

Gentlemen of the Senate, and

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives :

It is with peculiar satisfaction that I meet the sixth Congress of the United States of America. Coming from all parts of the Union, at this critical and interesting period, the members must be fully possessed of the sentiments and wishes of our constituents.

The flattering prospects of abundance, from the labors of the people, by land and by sea; the prosperity of our extended commerce, notwithstanding interruptions occasioned by the belligerent state of a great part of the world; the return of health, industry, and trade, to those cities which have lately been afflicted with disease; and the various and inestimable advantages, civil and religious, which, secured under our happy frame of Government, are continued to us unimpaired, demand, of the whole American people, sincere thanks to a benevolent Deity, for the merciful dispensations of his providence.

But, while these numerous blessings are recollected, it is a painful duty to advert to the ungrateful return which has been made for them, by some of the people, in certain counties of Pennsylvania, where, seduced by the arts and misrepresentations of designing men, they have openly resisted the law directing the valuation of houses and lands. Such defiance was given to the civil authority as rendered hopeless all further attempts, by judicial process, to enforce the execution of the law; and it became necessary to direct a military force to be employed, consisting of some companies of regular troops, volunteers, and militia, by whose zeal and activity, in co-operation with the judicial power, order and submission were restored, and many of the offenders arrested. Of these, some have been convicted of misdemeanors, and others, charged with various crimes,

remain to be tried.

To give due effect to the civil administration of Government, and to insure a just execution of the laws, a revision and amendment of the judiciary system is indispensably necessary. In this extensive country it the interpretation of the laws, and the rights and duties cannot but happen that numerous questions respecting