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JOURNAL

OF

The House of Representatives

OF THE

UNITED STATES.

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:

BEGUN and held at the City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, on Monday, the fifth of November, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, being the Second Session of the Second Congress held under the Constitution of Government of the United States:

On which day, being the day appointed by law for the meeting of the present Ses sion, the following Members of the House of Representatives appeared, and took their seats in the House, to wit:

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And a quorum, consisting of a majority of the whole number, being present, Another member, to wit: George Leonard, from Massachusetts, appeared, produced his credentials, and took his seat in the House; the oath to support the Constitution of the United States being first administered to him by Mr. Speaker, according to law.

Ordered, That a message be sent to the Senate, to inform them that a quorum of this House is assembled, and ready to proceed to business; and that the Clerk of this House do go with the said message.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary:

Mr. Specker: I am directed to inform this House that a quorum of the Senate is assembled, and that, the Vice President not having arrived, the Senate have chosen John Langdon their President pro tempore, and are ready to proceed to business. And then he withdrew.

On motion,

Resolved, That Mr. Boudinot, Mr. Key, and Mr. Moore, be a committee, jointly, with such committee as shall be appointed on the part of the Senate, to wait on the Presi dent of the United States, and notify him that a quorum of the two Houses is assembled, and ready to receive any communications he may think proper to make to them. Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith.

On motion,

Resolved, That two chaplains, of different denominations, be appointed to Congress for the present session, one by each House, to interchange weekly.

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

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary:

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have appointed a committee, jointly, with the committee appointed by this House, to wait on the President of the United States, and notify him that a quorum of the two Houses is assembled, and ready to receive any commu nications he may think proper to make to them: The Senate also agree to the resolu tion of this House for the appointment of two Chaplains to Congress for the present session, and have elected the Right Reverend Bishop White on their part. And then he withdrew.

The House then proceeded by ballot to the appointment of a Chaplain to Congress, on the part of this House; and, upon examining the ballots, a majority of the votes of the whole House was found in favor of the Reverend Ashbel Green.

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

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Governor of Georgia, enclosing a proclamation and return of the election of John Milledge, to serve as one of the members of this House for the said State, in the room of Anthony Wayne, whose seat was declared vacant; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

A petition of sundry merchants of the city of Charleston, in the State of South Carolina, was presented to the House and read, praying that Congress will pass a law to restrain the proceedings, and reduce the fees in the Court of Admiralty of the United States in the said State; as, also, to admit of other security being taken, to the satisfac faction of the Judge of the Court, in small and trivial causes brought by seamen or others against vessels in the merchants' service.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to Mr. William Smith, Mr. Laurance, and

Mr. White, with instruction to examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House.

Mr. Boudinot, from the joint committee appointed to wait on the President of the United States, and notify him that a quorum of the two Houses is assembled and ready to receive any communications he may be pleased to make to them, reported that the committee had, according to order, performed that service, and that the President was pleased to say, that he would make a communication to both Houses of Congress tomorrow, at twelve o'clock, in the Senate Chamber.

On motion,

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House cause the members to be furnished, during the present session, with three newspapers, such as the members, respectively, shall choose, to be delivered at their lodgings.

And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning cleven o'clock.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6.

Several other members, viz: from New York, James Gordon; from Pennsylvania, John Wilkes Kittera; and from Virginia, Samuel Griffin and John Page, appeared, and took their seats in the House.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary:

Mr. Speaker: The Senate are now ready, in the Senate Chamber, to attend this House in receiving the communication from the President of the United States, agreeably to his notification to both Houses yesterday. And then he withdrew.

The Speaker, attended by the members of this House, then withdrew to the Senate Chamber, for the purpose expressed in the message from the Senate; and, being returned, Mr. Speaker laid before the House a copy of the Speech delivered by the President of the United States to both Houses of Congress, in the Senate Chamber, as followeth :

Fellow Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives :

It is some abatement of the satisfaction with which I meet you on the present occasion, that, in felicitating you on a continuance of the national prosperity, generally, I am not able to add to it information that the Indian hostilities, which have for some time past distressed our Northwestern frontier, have terminated.

You will, I am persuaded, learn, with no less concern than I communicate it, that reiterated endeavors towards effecting a pacification have hitherto issued only in new and outrageous proofs of persevering hostility, on the part of the tribes with whom we are in contest. An earnest desire to procure tranquillity to the frontier, to stop the further effusion of blood; to arrest the progress of expense; to forward the prevalent wish of the nation for peace; has led to strenuous efforts, through various channels, to accomplish these desirable purposes. In making which efforts, I consulted less my own anticipations of the event, or the scruples which some considerations were calcu lated to inspire, than the wish to find the object attainable: or, if not attainable, to ascertain unequivocally that such is the case.

A detail of the measures that have been pursued, and of their consequences, which will be laid before you, while it will confirm to you the want of success thus far, will, I trust, evince that means, as proper and as efficacious as could have been devised, have been employed. The issue of some of them, indeed, is still depending; but a favorable one, though not to be despaired of, is not promised by any thing which has yet happened. In the course of the attempts which have been made, some valuable citizens have fallen victims to their zeal for the public service. A sanction commonly respected, even among savages, has been found, in this instance, insufficient to protect from massacre the emissaries of peace. It will, I presume, be duly considered, whether the occas.on does not call for an exercise of liberality towards the families of the deceased.

It must add to your concern to be informed that, beside the continuation of hostile appearances among the tribes North of the Ohio, some threatening symptoms have of late been revived among some of those South of it.

A part of the Cherokees, known by the name of Chickamagas, inhabiting five villages on the Tennessee river, have long been in the practice of committing depradations on the neighboring settlements.

It was hoped that the treaty of Holston, made with the Cherokee nation in July, 1791, would have prevented a repetition of such depredations; but the event has not answered this hope. The Chickamagas, aided by some banditti of another tribe in their vicinity, have recently perpetrated wanton and unprovoked hostilities upon the citizens of the United States in that quarter. The information which has been received

on this subject will be laid before you. Hitherto, defensive precautions only have been strictly enjoined, and observed.

It is not understood that any breach of treaty, or aggression whatsoever, on the part of the United States, or their citizens, is even alleged as a pretext for the spirit of hostility in this quarter.

I have reason to believe that every practicable exertion has been made, pursuant to the provision by law for that purpose, to be prepared for the alternative of a prosecution of the war, in the event of the failure of pacific overtures. A large proportion of the troops authorized to be raised have been recruited, though the number is still incomplete; and pains have been taken to discipline, and put them in condition for the particular kind of service to be performed. A delay of operations, besides being dictated by the measures which were pursuing towards a pacific termination of the war, has been in itself deemed preferable to immature efforts. A statement from the proper department, with regard to the number of troops raised, and some other points which have been suggested, will afford more precise information, as a guide to the legislative consultations; and, among other things, will enable Congress to judge whether some additional stimulus to the recruiting service may not be advisable.

In looking forward to the future expense of the operations which may be found inevitable, I derive consolation from the information I receive, that the product of the revenues for the present year is likely to supersede the necessity of additional burthens on the community, for the service of the ensuing year. This, however, will be better ascertained in the course of the session. And it is proper to add, that the information alluded to proceeds upon the supposition of no material extension of the spirit of hostility.

I cannot dismiss the subject of Indian affairs, without again recommending to your consideration the expediency of more adequate provision for giving energy to the laws throughout our interior frontier, and for restraining the cominission of outrages upon the Indians; without which, all pacific plans must prove nugatory. To enable, by competent rewards, the employment of qualified and trusty persons to reside among them as agents, would also contribute to the preservation of peace and good neighbor hood. If, in addition to these expedients, an eligible plan could be devised for promoting civilization among the friendly tribes, and for carrying on trade with them upon a scale equal to their wants, and under regulations calculated to protect them from imposition and extortion, its influence in cementing their interests with ours could not but be considerable.

The prosperous state of our revenue has been intimated. This would be still more the case, were it not for the impediments which, in some places, continue to embarrass the collection of the duties on spirits distilled within the United States. These impediments have lessened, and are lessening, in local extent; and, as applied to the community at large, the contentment with the law appears to be progressive.

But symptoms of increased opposition having lately manifested themselves in certain quarters, I judged a special interposition on my part proper and advisable; and, under this impression, have issued a proclamation, warning against all unlawful combinations and proceedings, having for their object or tending to obstruct the operation of the law in question, and announcing that all lawful ways and means would be strictly put in execution for bringing to justice the infractors thereof, and securing obedience thereto. Measures have also been taken for the prosecution of offenders; and Congress may be assured, that nothing within constitutional and legal limits, which may depend on me, shall be wanting to assert and maintain the just authority of the laws. In fulfilling this trust, I shall count entirely upon the full co-operation of the other Departments of Government, and upon the zealous support of all good citizens.

I cannot forbear to bring again into the view of the Legislature, the subject of a revision of the Judiciary System. A representation from the Judges of the Supreme Court, which will be laid before you, points out some of the inconveniences that are experienced. In the course of the execution of the laws, considerations arise out of the structure of that system, which, in some cases, tend to relax their efficacy. As connected with this subject, provisions to facilitate the taking of bail upon processes out of the Courts of the United States, and a supplementary definition of offences against the Constitution and laws of the Union, and of the punishment for such offences, will, it is presumed, be found worthy of particular attention.

Observations on the value of peace with other nations, are unnecessary. It would be wise, however, by timely provisions, to guard against those acts of our own citizens which might tend to disturb it, and to put ourselves in a condition to give that satisfaction to foreign nations which we may sometimes have occasion to require from them

I particularly recommend to your consideration the means of preventing those aggressions by our citizens on the territory of other nations, and other infractions of the law of nations, which, furnishing just subject of complaint, might endanger our peace with them. And, in general, the maintenance of a friendly intercourse with foreign Powers will be presented to your attention by the expiration of the law for that purpose, which takes place, if not renewed, at the close of the present session.

In execution of the authority given by the Legislature, measures have been taken for engaging some artists from abroad to aid in the establishment of our Mint; others have been employed at home. Provision has been made of the requisite buildings, and these are now putting into proper condition for the purposes of the establishment. There has also been a small beginning in the coinage of half-dismes; the want of small coins in circulation calling the first attention to them.

The regulation of foreign coins, in correspondency with the principles of our national coinage, as being essential to their due operation, and to order in our money concerns, will, I doubt not, be resumed and completed.

It is represented that some provisions in the law which establishes the Post Office, operate, in experiment, against the transmission of newspapers to distant parts of the country. Should this, upon due inquiry, be found to be the fact, a full conviction of the importance of facilitating the circulation of political intelligence and information, will, I doubt not, lead to the application of a remedy.

The adoption of a Constitution for the State of Kentucky has been notified to me. The Legislature will share with me in the satisfaction which arises from an event interesting to the happiness of the part of the nation to which it relates, and conducive to the general order.

It is proper, likewise, to inform you that, since my last communication on the subject, and in further execution of the acts severally making provision for the public debt, and for the reduction thereof, three new loans have been effected, each for three millions of florins: one at Atwerp, at the annual interest of four and one half per cent. with an allowance of four per cent. in lieu of all charges; and the other two at Amsterdam, at the annual interest of four per cent. with an allowance of five and one half per cent. in one case, and of five per cent. in the other, in lieu of all charges. The rates of these loans, and the circumstances under which they have been made, are confirmations of the high state of our credit abroad.

Among the objects to which these funds have been directed to be applied, the payment of the debts due to certain foreign officers, according to the provision made during the last session, has been embraced.

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:

I entertain a strong hope that the state of the national finances is now sufficiently matured to enable you to enter upon a systematic and effectual arrangement for the regu lar redemption and discharge of the public debt, according to the right which has been reserved to the Government. No measure can be more desirable, whether viewed with an eye to its intrinsic importance, or to the general sentiment and wish of the nation. Provision is likewise requisite for the reimbursement of the loan which has been made of the Bank of the United States, pursuant to the eleventh section of the act by which it is incorporated. In fulfilling the public stipulations in this particular, it is expected a valuable saving will be made.

Appropriations for the current service of the ensuing year, and for such extraordinaries as may require provision, will demand, and, I doubt not, will engage, your early attention.

Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives:

I content myself with recalling your attention, generally, to such objects, not particularized in my present, as have been suggested in my former communications to you. Various temporary laws will expire during the present Session. Among these, that which regulates trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes, will merit particular notice.

The results of your common deliberations hitherto, will, I trust, be productive of solid and durable advantages to our constituents; such as, by conciliating more and more their ultimate suffrage, will tend to strengthen and confirm their attachment to that Constitution of Government upon which, under Divine Providence, materially depend their union, their safety, and their happiness.

Still further to promote and secure these inestimable ends, there is nothing which can have a more powerful tendency, than the careful cultivation of harmony, combined with due regard to stability, in the public councils.

United States, November 6, 1792.

G. WASHINGTON.

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