amendment of the Senate; and the same being twice read, was disagreed to by the House. Ordered, That the Committee of the whole House to whom were committed, on the eleventh of January last, the bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act to authorize the sale of the frigate General Greene, and a further addition to the naval armament of the United States, and a re port of the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures thereon, be discharged therefrom; and that the farther consideration of the said bill and report be postponed until the first Monday in No vember next. H. OF R. States, which they deemed illustrative of the positions, upon which they intended to rest the defence of their client. 3. In debarring the prisoner from his Constitutional privilege of addressing the jury (through his counsel) on the law, as well as on the fact, which was to determine his guilt, or innocence, and at the same time endeavoring to wrest from the jury their indisputable tion of law, as well as the question of fact, involved in right to hear argument, and determine upon the questhe verdict which they were required to give. ART. 2. That, in consequence of this irregular conduct of the said Samuel Chase, as dangerous to our liberties as it is novel to our laws and usages, the said Ordered, That the farther consideration of the John Fries was deprived of the right, secured to him by bill, entitled "An act for the further protection of the eighth article amendatory of the Constitution, and the seamen and commerce of the United States," was condemned to death without having been heard, together with the amendments proposed by the by counsel, in his defence, to the disgrace of the characSenate thereto, on the twenty-eighth of Novem-ter of the American bench, in manifest violation of law ber last, be postponed until the first Monday in November next. Resolved, That this House doth agree to the conference desired by the Senate on the subjectmatter of their amendment to the bill, entitled "An act concerning the Public Buildings at the City of Washington;" and that Mr. J. LEWIS, jun., Mr. VARNUM, and Mr. JOHN CAMPBELL, be appointed managers at the said conference, on the part of this House. IMPEACHMENT OF JUDGE CHASE. Mr. JOHN RANDOLPH, from the committee appointed on the thirteenth instant, to prepare and report articles of impeachment against Samuel Chase, one of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, made a report thereon; which was read, as follows: Report of the committee appointed to prepare articles of impeachment against Samuel Chase, one of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. Articles exhibited by the House of Representatives of the United States, in the name of themselves and of all the people of the United States, against Samuel Chase, one of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, in maintenance and support of their impeachment against him, for high crimes and misdemeanors. and justice, and in open contempt of the rights of juries, on which ultimately rest the liberty and safety of the American people. ART. 3. That, prompted by a similar spirit of persecution and injustice, at a circuit court of the United States, held at Richmond, in the month of May, 1800, for the district of Virginia, where at the said Samuel Chase presided, and before which a certain James Thompson Callender was arraigned for a libel on John Adams, then President of the United States, the said Samuel Chase, with intent to oppress and procure the conviction of the said Callender, did overrule the objection of John Basset, one of the jury, who wished to be excused from serving on the trial, because he had made up his mind as to the publication from which the words, charged to be libellous, in the indictment, were extracted; and the said Basset was accordingly sworn, and did serve on the said jury. ART. 4. That the evidence of John Taylor, a material witness on behalf of the aforesaid Callender, was not permitted by the said Samuel Chase to be given in, because the said witness could not prove the truth of the whole of one of the charges contained in the indictment, although the said charge embraced more than one fact. ART. 5. That the conduct of the said Samuel Chase was marked, during the whole course of the said trial, by manifest injustice, partiality, and intemperance, viz: 1. In refusing to postpone the trial, although an affidavit was regularly filed, stating the absence of material witnesses on behalf of the accused. 2. In the use of unusual, rude, and contemptuous expressions towards the prisoner's counsel; and in insinuating that they wished to excite the public fears and indignation, and to produce that insubordination to law to which the conduct of the judge did at the same time manifestly tend. ARTICLE 1. That, unmindful of the solemn duties of his office, and contrary to the sacred obligation by which he stood bound to discharge them " faithfully and impartially, and without respect to persons," the said Samuel Chase, on the trial of John Fries, charged with treason, before the circuit court of the United States, held for the district of Pennsylvania, in the city of Philadelphia, during the months of April and May, one thousand eight hundred, whereat the said 3. In repeated and vexatious interruptions of the said Samuel Chase presided, did, in his judicial capacity, counsel, on the part of the said judge, which at length conduct himself in a manner highly arbitrary, oppres-induced them to abandon their cause and their client, sive, and unjust, viz: 1. In delivering an opinion in writing, on the question of law, on the construction of which the defence of the accused materially depended, tending to prejudice the minds of the jury against the case of the said John Fries, the prisoner, before counsel had been heard in his defence. 2. In restricting the counsel for the said Fries from recurring to such English authorities as they believed apposite, or from citing certain statutes of the United who was thereupon convicted and condemned to fine and imprisonment. 4. In an indecent solicitude, manifested by the said Samuel Chase, for the conviction of the accused, unbecoming even a public prosecutor, but highly disgraceful to the character of a judge, as it was subversive of justice. ART. 6. That, at a circuit court of the United States, for the district of Delaware, held at Newcastle, in the month of June, one thousand eight hundred, wherea the said Samuel Chase presided-the said Samuel Chase, disregarding the duties of his office, did descend from the dignity of a judge and stoop to the level of an informer, by refusing to discharge the grand jury, although entreated by several of the said jury so to do; and after the said grand jury had regularly declared, through their foreman, that they had found no bills of indictment, nor had any presentments to make, by observing to the said grand jury, that he, the said Samuel Chase, understood "that a highly seditious temper had manifested itself in the State of Delaware, among a certain class of people, particularly in Newcastle county, and more especially in the town of Wilmington, where lived a most seditious printer, unrestrained by any principle of virtue, and regardless of social order-that the name of this printer was"-but checking himself, as if sensible of the indecorum which he was committing, added, "that it might be assuming too much to mention the name of this person, but it becomes your duty, gentlemen, to inquire diligently into this matter;" and that with intention to procure the prosecution of the printer in question, the said Samuel Chase did, moreover, authoritatively enjoin on the District Attorney of the United States the necessity of procuring a file of the papers to which he alluded, (and which were understood to be those published under the title of "Mirror of the Times and General Advertiser,") and by a strict examination of them to find some passage which might furnish the ground-work of a prosecution against the printer of the said paper; thereby degrading his high judicial functions, and tending to impair the public confidence in, and respect for, the tribunals of justice, so essential to the general welfare. MARCH, 1804. time hereafter any farther articles, or other accusation or impeachment against the said Samuel Chase, and also of replying to his answers which he shall make unto the said articles, or any of them, and offering proof to all and every the aforesaid articles, and to all and every other article, impeachment, or accusation, which shall be exhibited by them, as the case shall require, do demand that the said Samuel Chase may be put to answer the said crimes and misdemeanors, and that such proceedings, examinations, trials, and judgments, may be thereupon had and given, as are agreeable to law and justice. Ordered, That the said report be printed for the use of the members of both Houses; and that the Clerk of this House be directed to transmit to each of the members of the two Houses of Congress, a copy of the said report, as soon as the same shall be printed. Ordered, That there be a call of the House tomorrow morning at eleven o'clock. The House adjourned until four o'clock, post meridian. Four o'clock, p. m. A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have passed a resolution, that the resolution of the two Houses authorizing the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives to adjourn their respective Houses on this day, be rescinded; and that the said President and Speaker of the House of Representatives be authorized to close the present session, by adjourning their respective Houses on Tuesday, the 27th of this month; to which they desire the concurrence of this House. The Senate adhere to their amendment, disagreed to by this House to the bill, entitled "An act supplementary to the act, entitled 'An act providing for a Naval Peace Establishment, and for other purposes." of the Senate to rescind the resolution of both The House proceeded to consider the resolution Houses, of the thirteenth instant, for an adjournment of the two Houses of Congress, on this day; and authorizing the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, to close the present session, by adjourning their respective Houses on Tuesday the 27th of the present month: Whereupon, ART. 7. And whereas mutual respeet and confidence between the Government of the United States and those of the individual States, and between the people and those Governments, respectively, are highly conducive to that public harmony, without which there can be no public happiness, yet the said Samuel Chase, disregarding the duties and dignity of his judicial character, did, at a circuit court, for the district of Maryland, held at Baltimore, in the month of May, one thousand eight hundred and three, pervert his official right and duty to address the grand jury then and there assembled, on the matters coming within the province of the said jury, for the purpose of delivering to the said grand jury an intemperate and inflammatory political harangue, with intent to excite the fears and resentment of the said grand jury, and of the good people of Maryland, against their State government and constitution-a conduct highly censurable in any, but peculiarly indecent and unbecoming in a judge of the Supreme Court of the United States; and, moreover, that the said Samuel Chase, then and there, under YEAS-Willis Alston, jun., Isaac Anderson, John pretence of exercising his judicial right to address the Archer, George Michael Bedinger, Walter Bowie, Josaid grand jury, as aforesaid, did, in a manner, highly seph Bryan, George W. Campbell, John Campbell, unwarrantable, endeavor to excite the odium of the Thomas Claiborne, Joseph Clay, Matthew Clay, Richsaid grand jury, and of the good people of Maryland, ard Cutts, John Dawson, William Dickson, Peter Earagainst the Government of the United States, by de-ly, William Findley, James Gillespie, William Helms, livering opinions, which, even if the judicial authority David Holmes, Walter Jones, Nehemiah Knight, Jowere competent to their expression, on a suitable occa-seph Lewis, jr., Matthew Lyon, William McCreery, sion and in a proper manner, were at that time, and as delivered by him, highly indecent, extra judicial, and tending to prostrate the high judicial character with which he was invested to the low purpose of an electioneering partisan. And the House of Representatives, by protestation, saving to themselves the liberty of exhibiting at any Resolved, That this House doth agree to the said resolution of the Senate.-Yeas 49, nays 44, as follows: Andrew Moore, Nicholas R. Moore, Jeremiah Morrow, Thompson, Philip Van Cortlandt, Peleg Wadsworth, NAYS-Simeon Baldwin, David Bard, Silas Betton, William Blackledge, Adam Boyd, Robert Brown, William Chamberlin, Martin Chittenden, Clifton Claggett, John Clopton, Frederick Conrad, Jacob Crowninshield, Manasseh Cutler, Samuel W. Dana, John Davenport, Thomas Dwight, James Elliot, Ebenezer Elmer, Gaylord Griswold, Roger Griswold, John A. Hanna, Josiah Hasbrouck, William Hoge, David Hough, William Kennedy, Michael Leib, Henry W. Livingston, Andrew McCord, David Meriwether, Nahum Mitchell, Gideon Olin, Thomas Plater, John Rhea of Pennsylvania, Jacob Richards, James Sloan, John Cotton Smith, Richard Stanford, William Stedman, John Stewart, Samuel Tenney, Samuel Thatcher, Killian K. Van Rensselaer, Joseph B. Varnum, and Lemuel Williams. The House proceeded to reconsider the amendment disagreed to by this House, and adhered to by the Senate, to the bill, entitled "An act supplementary to the act, entitled 'An act providing for a Naval Peace Establishment, and for other purposes: Whereupon, Resolved, That this House doth recede from their disagreement to the said amendment. TUESDAY, March 27. Resolved, That the Clerk of this House be allowed, out of the contingent fund of the House, the sum of three hundred dollars, for extra services during the present session. H. OF R. and providing for the disposal of the public lands south of the State of Tennessee," with several amendments; to which they desire the concurrence of this House: also, the bill, entitled "An act supplementary to the act, entitled 'An act concerning the City of Washington," with an amendment; to which they desire the the concurrence of this House. The House proceeded to consider the amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act for imposing more specific duties on the importation of certain articles, and also for levying and collecting light-money on foreign ships or vessels:" Whereupon, Resolved, That this House doth agree to the said amendments. Mr. JOSEPH LEWIS, jr., from the managers appointed the 26th instant, on the part of this House, to attend a conference with the Senate on the subject-matter of the amendment depending between the two Houses to the bill, entitled "An act concerning the Public Buildings at the City of Washington," made a report thereon; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. The House proceeded to consider the amendment proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act for the appointment of an additional Judge for the Mississippi Territory, and for other purposes:" Whereupon, Resolved, That this House doth agree to the said amendment. Resolved, That the Clerk of this House be au- The House proceeded to consider the amendthorized and directed to pay, out of the moneys ments proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled appropriated to defray the contingent expenses of "An act authorizing the appointment of Commisthe House, to the principal and engrossing clerks sioners to explore the routes most eligible for openin the office of the Clerk of the House, respect-ing certain public roads:" Whereupon, ively, two hundred dollars each, for their extra services during the present session; also, to the Sergeant-at-Arms, to the Doorkeeper, and Assistant Doorkeeper, two hundred dollars each, in addition to their present allowance; and also, fifty dollars to Alexander Claxton, out of the contingent fund of the House. Resolved, That the Clerk of this House be authorized and directed to pay, out of the moneys appropriated to defray the contingent charges of this House, to the Chaplain of this House, one hundred and fifty dollars, in addition to his present allowance. Resolved, That the farther consideration of the said bill and amendments be postponed until the first Monday in December next. The House proceeded to consider the amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act regulating the grants of land, and providing for the disposal of the public lands south of the State of Tennessee:" Whereupon, Resolved, That this House doth agree to the said amendments. The House proceeded to consider the amendment proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act supplementary to the act, entitled 'An act concerning the City of Washington:" Whereupon, Resolved, That this House doth agree to the said amendment. A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have passed the bill, entitled "An act for imposing more specific duties on the importation of certain articles, and also for levying and collecting light-money on foreign ships or Resolved, That the Clerk of this House be auvessels;" to which they desire the concurrence of thorized and directed to pay, out of the contingent this House: the bill, entitled "An act for the ap- fund of the House, to John Phillips, a laborer empointment of an additional Judge of the Missis-ployed by the Doorkeeper to attend the commitsippi Territory, and for other purposes," with an amendment; to which they desire the concurrence of this House: the bill, entitled "An act authorizing the appointment of commissioners to explore the routes most eligible for opening certain public roads," with several amendments; to which they desire the concurrence of this House: the bill, entitled "An act supplementary to the act, entitled, 'An act regulating the grants of land, tee rooms and Clerk's office, the sum of fifty dollars, in addition to his present allowance. A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have passed a bill, entitled "An act to provide for a more extensive distribution of the laws of the United States; to which they desire the concurrence of this House. The said bill was read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole immediately. The House accordingly resolved itself into the said Committee; and, after some time spent therein, the bill was reported with an amendment; which was twice read, and agreed to by the House. Ordered, That the said bill, with the amendment, be now read the third time. The bill, as amended, was accordingly read the third time, and passed. Resolved. That Mr. JOHN RANDOLPH and Mr. SAMUEL L. MITCHILL be appointed a committee, on the part of this House, jointly with such committee as may be appointed on the part of the Senate, to wait on the President of the United States, and notify him of the proposed recess of Congress. Resolved, That the Clerk of this House be authorized and directed to pay, out of the contingent fund of the House, to Job Pearce and William Ewing, employed by the Doorkeeper during the present session, the sum of forty-nine dollars each, in addition to their present allowance. Ordered, That the call of the House, directed to be at eleven o'clock in the morning, on this day, be postponed until half-past four o'clock, post meridian. Adjourned until half-past four, P. M. MARCH, 1804. Half past four o'clock, p. m. to William, the wood-carrier, thirty-five dollars, Resolved, That the Clerk of this House do pay out of the money appropriated for the contingent expenses of this House." Mr. JOHN RANDOLPH, from the committee appointed on the part of this House, jointly with the committee appointed on the part of the Senate, to wait on the President of the United States and notify him of the proposed recess of Congress, reported that the committee had performed that service; and that the President signified to them he had no farther communication to make during the present session. Ordered, That a message be sent to the Senate to inform them that this House, having completed the business before them, are now about to adjourn until the first Monday in November next; and that the Clerk of this House do go with the said message. A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate, having completed the Legislative business before them, are now ready to adjourn. Whereupon the SPEAKER adjourned the House until the first Monday in November next. PUBLIC ACTS OF CONGRESS; PASSED AT THE FIRST SESSION OF THE EIGHTH CONGRESS, BEGUN AND HELD AT THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, OCTOBER 17, 1803. AN ACT to enable the President of the United States to take possession of the territories ceded by France to the United States, by the treaty concluded at Paris on the thirtieth of April last, and for the temporary government thereof. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to take possession of, and occupy the territories ceded by France to the United States, by the treaty concluded at Paris on the thirtieth day of April last, between the two nations, and that he may for that purpose, and in order to maintain in the said territories the authority of the United States, employ any part of the army or navy of the United States, and of the force authorized by an act passed the third day of March last, entitled "An act directing a detachment from the militia of the United States, and for erecting certain arsenals," which he may deem necessary; and so much of the sum appropriated by the said act as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated for the purpose of carying this act into effect; to be applied under the direction of the President of the United States. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That until the expiration of the present session of Congress, unless provision for the temporary government of the said territories be sooner made by Congress, all the military, civil, and judicial powers exercised by the officers of the existing government of the same, shall be vested in such person and persons, and shall be exercised in such manner, as the President of the United States shall direct, for maintaining and protecting the inhabitants of Louisiana in the free enjoyment of their liberty, property, and religion. NATHL. MACON, Speaker of the House of Representatives. JOHN BROWN, President of the Senate, pro tempore. Approved, October 31, 1803. An Act authorizing the creation of a stock to the amount of eleven millions two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, for the purpose of carrying into effect the convention of the thirtieth of April, one thousand eight hundred and three, between the United States of America and the French Republic, and making provision for the payment of the same. Be it enacted, &c., That, for the purpose of carrying into effect the convention of the thirtieth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and three, between the United States of America and the French Republic, the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause to be constituted certificates of stock, signed by the Register of the Treasury, in favor of the French Republic, or of its assignees, for the sum of eleven nillions two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, bearing an interest of six per centum per annum, from the time when possession of Louisiana shall have been obtained, in conformity with the treaty of the thirtieth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and three, between the United States of America and the French Republic, and in other respects conformable with the tenor of the convention aforesaid; and the President of the United States is authorized to cause the said certificates of stock to be delivered to the Government of France, or to such person or persons as shall be authorized to receive them, in three months, at most, after the exchange of ratifications of the treaty aforesaid, and after Louisiana shall be taken possession of in the name of the Government of the United States; and credit or credits to the proprietors thereof shall thereupon be entered and given on the books of the Treasury in like manner as for the present funded debt; which said credits or stock shall thereafter be transferable only on the books of the Treasury of the United States, by the proprietor or proprietors of such stock, his, her, or their attorney; and the faith of the United States is hereby pledged for the payment of the interest, and for the reimbursement of the principal of said stock, in conformity with the provisions of the said convention: Provided, however, That the Secretary of the Treasury may, with the approbation of the President of the United States, consent to discharge the said stock in four equal annual instalments, and. also shorten the periods fixed by the convention for its reimbursement: And provided, also, That every proprietor of the said stock may, until otherwise directed by law, on surrendering his certificate of such stock, receive another to the same amount, and bearing an interest of six per centum per annum, payable quarterly at the Treasury of the United States. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the annual interest accruing on the said stock, which may, in conformity with the convention aforesaid, be payable in Europe, shall be paid at the rate of four shillings and six pence sterling for each dollar, if payable in London, and at the rate of two guilders and one-half a guilder, current |